BETHLEHEM, January 24, 2011 (WAFA) – Israeli bulldozers destroyed agricultural land on Sunday in the town of Al Khader, south of Bethlehem, according to local sources.
Israel bulldozed five dunums of agricultural land in the Ras Salah area near Daniel settlement belonging to Ali Abdel Salam and uprooted 20 olive trees and dozens of grape and almond trees, according to the Wall and Settlements Coordinator in the Agriculture Department of Bethlehem, Awad Abu Sawy.
Israel began destroying the land four days ago under the pretext of security but for the purpose of expanding a street leading to Daniel settlement.
The agricultural department gave Abdel Salam a number of seedlings to be planted in place of the uprooted trees.
Thousands of settlers raided lands in the last few days in the areas of Al Khader and Artas in Bethlehem, planting hundreds of olive and grape trees trying to create a de facto situation to confiscate the land and give it Jewish ownership
T.R.
