BETHLEHEM, Monday, December 24, 2018 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers Monday set up a caravan in Palestinian-owned lands in the southern West Bank village of Battir, north of Bethlehem city, said a local activist.

Ibrahim Awadallah, local activist, told WAFA that a group of settlers raided the area of al-Khimar, northeast of Battir, and set up a caravan as a prelude to the construction of a new outpost

Awadallah noted that Israeli forces prevented Palestinian landowners from accessing their lands in the Bethlehem-district village on UNESCO heritage list, a move that came several days after settlers constructed a new settler-only road before locals stopped them from continuing razing the land.

Battir, six kilometers west of Bethlehem, is on the UNESCO world heritage list due to its ancient terraces and Roman-era irrigation system which is still used by villagers to irrigate their crops.

It is home to a Roman spring and bath, an eco-museum and some hiking trails. Its old town is known as the Seven Widows Quarter.

K.T./ K.F.