Israeli authorities, on Thursday morning, announced a decision to confiscate about 1,000 dunams (250 acres) of private Palestinian land in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem.Deputy mayor of al-Khader Ismail Issa told Ma’an News Agency that high-level Israeli military commanders and Civil Administration officers, along with a group of settlers, toured private Palestinian fields in areas known locally as Khallat al-Fahm, al-Zaytouna and al-Absiyya.
They left yellow posters reading “State properties! No entry,” he said.
Issa added that the Israeli officers dropped off copies of a statement which explained that 984 dunams of private land was slated for confiscation. Palestinian farmers who wish to contest the decision can object within 45 days, according to the statement.
The Palestinian liaison department has been notified of the Israeli decision, added Issa.
Separately, Israeli forces escorted a large bulldozer which leveled private Palestinian lands in the al-Nahla Hill area, south of Bethlehem.
