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JERUSALEM, February 2, 2012 (WAFA) – The Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem forced a Palestinian shop owner in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan to demolish his own shop or face major financial and punitive consequences, Wadi Hilweh Information Center said Thursday.

It said Akram Abbasi demolished his shop on Wednesday after he received a threat from the municipality that if he does not demolish it himself and remove the rubble, the municipality will do it for him and force him to pay costs.

The municipality said Abbasi did not have a permit to build the shop.

Palestinians say they build without permits because the municipality does not give permits to Arab residents.

T.R./M.S.