°®Âþµº

on Friday forced their own animal barn inÌýoccupied east Jerusalem, for alleged unpermitted construction.

The Darwish family, who live in the neighbourhood of al-Isawiya were ordered to ÌýthemselvesÌýin order to avoid paying extortionate demolition fees, should the destruction be carried out by Israeli authorities, according to the Palestinian Wafa agency.

Israeli authorities regularly demolishÌýor forceÌýPalestinians to demolish their homes or properties inÌýoccupied east Jerusalem.

Building permits are rarely given toÌýPalestinians, according to numerous rights groups, leaving Palestinian families with no choice but to build properties atÌýrisk ofÌýbeing eventually subjected to demolition.

Meanwhile, Israeli governments and municipalities have builtÌýscores of housing units across in east Jerusalem - as well as the occupied West Bank -Ìýwith the goal to offset the demographic balance in favour for settler populations in the occupied territories.

There are an approximate 700,000 settlers living in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.

It is estimated that one third of to make way forÌýIsraeli settlements, which have been built since Israel’s occupation in 1967 -Ìýdeemed illegal under international law.

Earlier this week, Israeli authorities approved of a plan to build a nearly 500 homes in a new settlement in east Jerusalem, according to The Associated Press.

The planned is part of a cluster of settlements on the southern edge of east Jerusalem, which will further separate the city from nearby Bethlehem and the southern West Bank.

Palestinians in occupied east Jerusalem- and the wider West Bank- are regularly faced with discrimination concerning urban planning, making it difficult for them to build or expand on new homes. They alsoÌýregularly encounterÌý at the hands of Israeli forces.