Adeel
Founder
Jerusalem (CNN) -- A mosque and other structures were demolished by bulldozers in a Palestinian village in the West Bank early Thursday, according to village residents.
The Israeli Civil Administration said the demolished structures did not have "the required permits in a fire area, risking the lives of the population."
Residents of the village of Khirbet Yarza said they awoke Thursday to the sounds of bulldozers as Israeli personnel moved into the area. A mosque, seven metal structures, a tent and three animal sheds were demolished, residents said.
"Almost 200 military personal and 20 military jeeps and three bulldozers arrived this morning around 5:30 to the village and started demolishing structures and the village's sole mosque," Ahmad Abu Sa'ed, a Palestinian official and resident of the area, told CNN.
The village is home to some 200 Palestinians who largely depend on livestock and farming for their livings, he said.
The mosque was built before 1967 "but recently the residents added two additional rooms to it," Abu Sa'ed said, adding that the Israelis had given demolition warnings about the construction but the matter had been in courts.
The Israeli Civil Administration said the demolished structures did not have "the required permits in a fire area, risking the lives of the population."
Residents of the village of Khirbet Yarza said they awoke Thursday to the sounds of bulldozers as Israeli personnel moved into the area. A mosque, seven metal structures, a tent and three animal sheds were demolished, residents said.
"Almost 200 military personal and 20 military jeeps and three bulldozers arrived this morning around 5:30 to the village and started demolishing structures and the village's sole mosque," Ahmad Abu Sa'ed, a Palestinian official and resident of the area, told CNN.
The village is home to some 200 Palestinians who largely depend on livestock and farming for their livings, he said.
The mosque was built before 1967 "but recently the residents added two additional rooms to it," Abu Sa'ed said, adding that the Israelis had given demolition warnings about the construction but the matter had been in courts.
