BETHLEHEM, Saturday, December 29, 2018 (WAFA) – The Settlements and Wall Resistance Commission filed an appeal with the Israeli High Court against the Israeli government seizure of 1200 dunums of land in Khillat al-Nahleh, south of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, for the purpose of building a Jewish settlement, a statement said on Saturday.

Commission director in Bethlehem Hasan Breijieh told WAFA that the appeal was based on the fact that owners of the land in question have deeds proving ownership and therefore the land should not be classified as state land as claimed by Israel.

He said this seizure is illegal, explaining that the Israeli Peace Now movement intends to file a law suit against the government to demand that this land be used for the benefit of its actual Palestinian owners who have proof of ownership.

Israel claimed the land was declared state owned since 2004 in order to facilitate turning it into a settlement to be named Givat Itam. Work will soon start on drawing a masterplan for the settlement, said Breijieh.

M.K.