Do the Government of Israel and Jerusalem Municipality have the power to freeze building demolitions in East Jerusalem?
Yes. The fact that in 2000 the number of home demolitions in East Jerusalem dropped to 9 demonstrates that it can be done, if there is the political will to make and enforce such a decision. The same mechanisms and methodology that allowed the authorities to virtually suspend demolitions in 2000 – and additional methods as well – are still available to the authorities in 2009.
