TOUBAS, April 7, 2011 (WAFA) – Israeli soldiers Thursday destroyed houses, roads and lighting poles in the village of Al-Aqaba located in the Toubas area of the northern parts of the Jordan valley.

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Sami Sadeq, head of the village council, said a large force of Israeli soldiers, accompanied by bulldozers, surrounded the village since early morning and closed its entrances.

He said that the bulldozers began to demolish houses and barns on the east side of the village where they also destroyed newly paved roads. He said the soldiers demolished two houses and destroyed two main roads, one east of the village and the other at the west.

Israeli bulldozers also destroyed part of the village’s electricity grid.

According to an eyewitness, the Israeli bulldozers began the destruction of the western entrance to the village that links it to the main road that leads to the Jordan Valley area.

Sadeq added that he had received demolition notices over the past years and that 95% of the village houses are subject to demolition.

Over the past years, the Israeli authorities had notified residents of the decision to demolish most of the village houses under the pretext of not having building permits.

In addition, the Israeli high court approved two years ago army plans to demolish houses that are located outside the boundaries of a map the Israeli soldiers prepared to draw an outline for the village.

T.R./M.A.