HEBRON, West Bank ? The Israeli army, citing a lack of building permits, demolished nine houses belonging to Palestinians in the West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday, leaving dozens homeless.

In Hebron, Palestinian families hurriedly dragged refrigerators and sofas out of the houses before Israeli bulldozers, guarded by soldiers, began knocking down the walls. The families said they had received notices months ago that the houses would be demolished, but had not known when the work would begin.

A total of 22 homes were to be destroyed Sunday, all because they allegedly were built without permits, said Talia Somech, a spokeswoman for the army’s Civil Administration. Some houses had been completed and others were still under construction, Palestinians in the area said.

Israel has been tearing down dozens of Palestinian homes in recent months — houses allegedly built without permits as well as others belonging to militants involved in violence against Israel.

Yakub Sultan was building one of the houses for his son, who is to be married soon.

“The Israeli government and (Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon are destroying all our dreams by demolishing houses,” Sultan said as the bulldozers knocked down concrete walls.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said the demolitions were part of Sharon’s “policy of expanding settlements and putting obstacles in the way of future peace.”

Palestinians say Israel’s stringent permit policy makes it impossible to build houses.

Hebron, divided between Israeli and Palestinian sections, is a frequent flashpoint for violence. Israeli troops have taken hold of the Palestinian-controlled section at various times during the past 28 months of fighting, most recently since November.

Meanwhile, Sharon prepared to meet defeated Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna on Monday, the first time since Sharon’s Likud Party handily won an election last week.

Sharon has said he wants to bring Labor into his government, but Mitzna rejected that unless Sharon accepts Labor’s dovish policy toward the Palestinians by resuming peace talks and preparing for unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.

Mitzna told Israeli television Sunday that Sharon’s statements so far show “there is nothing in common between the” two parties.

Election results gave Sharon the option of a majority coalition government with hawkish and Orthodox Jewish parties, without Labor.