JERUSALEM, January 5 (JMCC) - In the middle of the night Tuesday, Israeli bulldozers destroyed several commercial interests in the north-eastern Jerusalem village of Hizma.

The bulldozers demolished two garages, a  car wash, and a construction workshop and then razed the surrounding land, ostensibly for visibility.

This was the fourth time the commercial area has been razed in a year. Resident Khatib Qowla estimated the total cost of the damage of the four demolitions at more than 200,000 shekels or approximately $53,000.

Israeli officials often demolish Palestinian buildings constructed without building permits, in areas where they rarely grant permission for Palestinian development.