Settlers invade abandoned army base in Beit Sahour and stay there for several hours

Friday May 30, 2008 11:59 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMc News

A group of 30 settlers invaded an abandoned military base located outside Beit Sahour city center, in the northern part of the West Bank.

Local NGO's workers gathered at Ush Ghrab two weeks ago – Photo by IMEMC's Ghassan Bannoura

A group of local NGOs workers in Beit Sahour arrived at the scene in an attmpte to stop the settlers from taking over the place. Israeli army forces arrived shortly after and moved the settlers and the NGOs workers away from the area.

A group of settlers had also invaded the same location two week, stayed for a few hours, and left pro-Israeli graffiti on the buildings.

Local activists are hoping to maintain a presence on the site in order to dissuade Israeli settlers from coming to set up a permanent settlement.

This land, known as Ush Ghrab (Crock’s Nest) was occupied by the Israeli army since 1967 and was used as a military base.

The Israeli army unilaterally withdrew from this land in 2006. The Municipality of Beit Sahour, which owns most of the land in that area, immediately started plans to build public gardens for the local community of Bethlehem area.

The project was realized through funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and a number of other charitable organizations.

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