On Tuesday Israeli soldiers bulldozed more than 30 Dunams (7.4 Acres) of Palestinian farmlands in al-Baq’a area, east of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and confiscated irrigation systems used by the local farmers. Local officials said that the uprooting of the Palestinian lands comes for the expansion of the illegal settlement of Kharsina in the area.
Israel is planning to expand the settlement by constructing an additional 500 housing units. Furthermore, the Israeli army also handed several residents military orders instructing them not to enter their lands, the Palestinian Information Center reported.
This is not the first attack of its kind intended to prepare for the expansion of the settlement. Similar attacks took place several years ago including in 1998 and 2000.
Also, on October 2009, Israeli settlers attacked al-Baq’a, burning down irrigation pipes belonging to a local resident. The attack took place soon after they destroyed water reservoirs in the area.
Israel’s illegal settlement activities were among the reasons that pushed the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to quit direct peace talks with Israel.
The Israeli violations include home demolitions and home confiscations in occupied East Jerusalem, and ongoing Israeli settlements projects and actual construction and expansion of Jewish settlements, in addition to Israel’s daily invasions into the occupied Palestinian territories.
