A/HRC/34/39 Israeli non-governmental organizations Ir Amin and Peace Now, at least 55 families were evicted from their homes in 2015 and 2016, and some 300 Palestinian families are under threat of eviction or imminent house demolition in the “historic basin” of the Old City of East Jerusalem. 61 In most cases, the evictions have been initiated by Israeli settler organizations on the basis of landownership claims, as well as claims that the residents are no longer “protected tenants”. As a result, 818 Palestinians, including 372 children, are at risk of displacement.62 Demolitions 47. Demolitions, 63 the threat of demolitions 64 and the lack of long-term protection against demolitions have been identified as key elements contributing to a coercive environment in the West Bank. Demolitions have been identified as a key coercive factor, in particular for Area C communities targeted for relocation, 65 communities in closed military zones66 and communities located near Israeli settlements. 67 48. During the reporting period, the highest number of demolitions of Palestinian homes and structures was recorded in the West Bank, with 874 structures demolished in Area C in 2016, compared with 456 in 2015, and 190 demolitions taking place in East Jerusalem, compared with 79 in 2015, the highest demolitions rate on record. 68 Between 1988 and 2016, the Israeli Civil Administration issued 14,929 orders to demolish around 16,000 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, which had been built without permits from the Israeli authorities. 49. The pace of demolitions in East Jerusalem also accelerated to an alarming rate, reaching 190 between 1 January and 31 October 2016, compared with 79 in 2015. 69 Pressure from government officials 50. Pressure, including threats and harassment during repeated visits from Israeli Civil Administration and other government officials, including members of the Israeli security forces, continued to be documented as an ongoing form of coercion. 70 During visits, in 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrdb/30th/public__UA_Israel_30.04.15_(1.2015)_pro.pdf). Ir Amim newsletter available from www.altro.co.il/newsletters/show/9436?key= d50319441ca2cdde8d7e87ceb1028269&value=c2e4bb0d506603c6a015881780b407ec41d90f70:1284 691. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “East Jerusalem: Palestinians at risk of evictions”, 3 November 2016. See A/68/513, paras. 30-34, A/HRC/25/38, paras. 11-20, and A/HRC/31/43, para. 44. See A/HRC/28/80, para. 24, and A/69/348, para. 13. See A/HRC/31/43, paras. 46 and 68, A/67/ 372, para. 55, A/HRC/24/30, A/69/348, para. 13, A/HRC/25/40, paras. 18-20, and A/HRC/28/45, para. 53. Approximately 18 per cent of Area C has been designated by the Israeli authorities as “firing zones”; 38 Palestinian communities are located in such zones. Because the Israeli Civil Administration prohibits construction in firing zones, wide-scale demolitions frequently take place. During 2016, at least five communities located in areas designated as firing zones experienced demolitions, including Halaweh and Jinba, in the Massafer Yatta area of Hebron, and are at risk of being forcibly transferred to allow implementation of firing zone 918; Ein ar Rashash (Ramallah, firing zone 906); Al Jiftlikabu al Ajaj (Jericho Governorate) and Khirbet Tana in the northern Jordan Valley (firing zone 904). Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Wide-scale demolitions in Khirbet Tana”, 4 March 2016. See A/HRC/28/45, para. 45, A/HRC/22/63, paras 32-38, and A/HRC/67/375, paras. 10-11. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs began collecting data on demolitions in 2009. Ir Amim newsletter available from www.altro.co.il/newsletters/show/9502?key=86ffe4a161ed2848474b99ff41b71bac&value=c2e4bb0d 506603c6a015881780b407ec41d90f70:1284691. In Khirbet Tell el-Himma (northern Jordan Valley), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has documented regular harassment by officials of the Israeli security forces and settlers during visits to the community following the demolition of homes and other structures in September 11