Israel issues demolition orders for West Bank homes

JERUSALEM — Israeli authorities yesterday issued demolition orders for two Palestinian buildings and a barn in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. "The Israelis gave the Palestinian owners 45 days to demolish the properties," Hasan Breijieh, coordinator of a local committee that opposes construction of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, told Anadolu Agency. According to Breijieh, Israeli forces stormed Al-Khader village and presented the owners of two buildings - a car wash and a barn used for horse breeding - with official demolition orders. There was no comment from Israeli authorities on the claim. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that Israel demolished more than 500 Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) last year alone.