Israel demolishes Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem

Israel demolished two Palestinian homes in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday after the Israeli municipality said the owners did not have building permits.

Bulldozers demolished one house in the Jabal al-Mukabber and another in Silwan, local sources told The New Arab.

The demolition sparked clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, local media reported, with the army firing rubber bullets and tear gas towards the demonstrators.

Palestinians in East Jerusalem often build their houses without construction permits from the Israeli authorities.

Applications for building permits are known to take years to be processed, giving Israeli courts a loophole to increase Palestinian home demolitions by branding structures as "illegal". Most applications are eventually rejected.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to approve construction of settler housing units in East Jerusalem.