Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas said on Wednesday that during the previous 'change government' only four unauthorized structures were demolished, compared to 5,700 homes razed this year under the current coalition. The statement is a sharp contrast to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's recent claims of demolishing 5,700 homes in the past year.
Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas asserted on Wednesday that the previous 'change government' — which included his party — demolished only four unauthorized structures during its tenure, while the current government has demolished 5,700 homes this year alone. The statement appeared to respond to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's claim earlier this week that he had ordered the demolition of 5,700 homes in the past year, a figure Abbas implicitly challenges. As The Zioneer reported, Ben Gvir pledged to intensify demolitions in Bedouin communities, and MK Yasser Houjirat (Ra'am) defended Abbas's record on halting demolitions during the change government. The exchange highlights the highly politicized nature of demolition enforcement in Israel's Arab and Bedouin communities, with each side using the figures to score political points. Abbas did not provide a source for his numbers, and the figures remain unverified.
2 developments
- DevelopingBen Gvir pledges to demolish unauthorized Bedouin homes, claims 5,700 razed in past year
- DevelopingMK Yasser Houjirat: Mansour Abbas halted all illegal building demolitions
- DevelopingBen Gvir confronts left-wing activist at Knesset hearing, threatens demolition
- DevelopingMansour Abbas: Joint Arab list off the table, others will brand me a traitor
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