Holy Land: Soldiers destroy olive trees near Bethlehem

It takes decades to grow olive trees

Local sources report that Israeli military bulldozers have uprooted more than 40 olive trees, in order to connect settler road #60 with the Cremisan Monastery in Beit Jala town, west of Bethlehem, and other areas.

Orchard owner Hisham Abu Ali stated that the army previously uprooted 15 trees in his orchard in order to expand the road, and came back today to uproot 40 more olive trees, the Palestinian News & Agency (WAFA) has reported.

Road construction and expansion is leading to massive illegal confiscation of Palestinian lands in occupied East Jerusalem, including Beit Safafa town and Bethlehem. Israel also intends to build “National Gardens” in the area.

Soldiers have also completely isolated 12 Palestinian villages near Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Yatta town said that the soldiers placed a number of concrete blocks there, sealing the main road linking Yatta with its eastern communities.

Soldiers also declared the area a closed military zone, stopped and searched dozens of residents and vehicles, forcing them back.

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Source: WAFA/MEMC