BETHLEHEM, September 5, 2011 (WAFA) – Israeli soldiers Monday cut down olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the village of Al-Walaja, northwest of Bethlehem in the West Bank.

Head of the village council, Saleh Khalifa, said Israeli soldiers raided the village Monday morning and blocked its main entrances, then cut down olive trees and razed land in order to complete building parts of the Separation Wall.  

Israeli soldiers also razed village lands four months ago, after cutting down hundreds of olive trees, he added.

Israeli civil administration employees came to the area at intermittent periods and marked the targeted olive trees to be cut.

Khalifa called on rights groups to immediately interfere to stop the mass cutting of olive trees and razing of land.

M.H./F.J.