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Israel steps up demolitions of Palestinian-owned homes in Jerusalem

"They don't want a single Palestinian in all of Jerusalem," Ratib Matar said. Uphill, in the heart of his neighborhood, Israeli flags fluttered from dozens of apartments recently built for religious Jews. Now homeless, Palestinian Matar and his family are staying with relatives. He vows to build again on land he inherited from his grandparents, though he has no faith in the Israeli legal system.

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Last month, Israel demolished 39 Palestinian homes, structures and businesses in east Jerusalem, displacing over 50 people, according to the United Nations. That was more than a quarter of the total number of demolitions in 2022. Ben-Gvir posted a of the bulldozers clawing at Matar's home. "We will fight terrorism with all the means at our disposal," he wrote, though Matar's home had nothing to do with the Palestinian shooting attacks.