The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) cut down dozens of olive trees on Sunday to the east of Qalqilya city as a prelude to building a road serving settlements established on Palestinian citizens’ agricultural lands.
Mousa Tabib activist in the field of settlement said that an Israeli army force stormed the citizens’ lands in Azzun and Izbat al-Tabib villages in Qalqilya in the early morning and started cutting dozens of olive trees.
Tabib told Quds Press news agency that more than 250 olive trees were cut down including tens of perennial trees in preparation for building the road linking between the Israeli settlements Karnei Shomron and Alfei Menashe which are built on Palestinian lands.
He pointed out that the three kilometers long road will be constructed in the targeted area as a prelude to another 10-km-long road running through the citizens’ lands in Azzun Izbat al-Tabib and the surrounding areas.
He added that the Israeli Supreme Court has rejected a petition by the Palestinian families affected by this Israeli move and asked them to submit papers proving their ownership of the targeted lands.
The Palestinian activist said that the Israeli authorities claim that the construction of this road aims to secure protection for the Israeli settlers from Palestinian attacks.
Tabib said that the people of the targeted lands will start protests against the confiscation of thousands of dunums of their agricultural lands and the construction of the road. He noted that this Israeli step challenges the international community after the UN Security Council passed the anti-settlement resolution.
