BETHLEHEM, December 11, 2006 (WAFA)-Israeli soldiers have uprooted Monday morning tens of grape trees in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, WAFA reporter said.

The owner of the land, Salah Shaheen told WAFA that more than 85 grape trees were uprooted from his farm in Iskarba area, south Bethlehem.

"This Israeli arbitrary act is not the first and my fruitful trees were devastated and my land bulldozered. It is an Israeli attempt to force me flee the land in favor of colonizing purposes," Shaheen said.

M.H.(11:25 P)(09:25 GMT)