Ruins of a Palestinian home demolished by Israel in al-Matar area in the Jordan Valley. (WAFA photo/Nadeen Sweiti) 

JERICHO, March 28, 2017 (WAFA) – Israel continued to demolish Palestinian homes in the Jordan Valley in an attempt to reduce Palestinian presence there, according to officials.

The Israeli army demolished three structures that were still in the building stage in al-Matar area east of Jericho under the pretext they were built without permit.

Jericho and Jordan Valley governor, Majed Fityani, said Israel makes life difficult for Palestinians in the rich Jordan Valley through home demolitions, closing herding areas, declaring large areas as firing zone and other measures in order to force them to leave the area.

United Nations and Israeli rights groups have said that Israel has intensified demolition of homes in Area C of the occupied West Bank that include the Jordan Valley.

Israel plans to annex the scarcely populated Area C, which makes 60 per cent of the area of the West Bank.

M.K.