JENIN, June 4, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli army destroyed on Thursday eight coal production facilities and confiscated hundreds of tons of wood used for manufacturing charcoal, outside the town of Ya’bad to the west of Jenin in northern West Bank, according to local sources.

Kayed Abu Bakr, head of the of coal-production workshop owners, told WAFA that an Israeli army force accompanied by bulldozers broke into the area and demolished eight coal-production facilities owned by Jaser Abu Baker and Mohammad Abbadi, two local residents.

The forces also confiscated hundreds of tons of wood used for manufacturing charcoal in these facilities, Abu Baker added.

He said there are almost 30 coal-production workshops in the area that are the main source of income for more than 1,000 Palestinian families living in Ya’bad and nearby villages.

Abu Bakr explained that the Israeli occupation forces and settlers are claiming the coal workshops pollute the environment and cause health problems, but that this is only an excuse to seize the land in favor of expansion of the nearby illegal settlements.

This is the second time in less than a month period the Israeli army demolish coal production facilities in Ya’bad. On May 18, army demolished and burnt eight coal-production facilities and two sheds owned by Mahmoud Jaber Abu Baker and Majdi Amarneh in the same area.

M.N