BETHLEHEM (PIC)– The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have leveled Palestinian lands in southern Bethlehem city as part of an underway project to construct the second-largest Jewish synagogue in the West Bank.
Member of the national anti-settlement committee Ahmad Salah said the IOA leveled Palestinian lands covering an area of 80 dunums which were confiscated last year in al-Khader town as part of a plan to build the so-called Yashiva Second Jewish synagogue and school.
The activist added that the project includes the establishment of a kindergarten for settlers’ children along with parks and gardens.
He said Israeli bulldozers and army vehicles ruined Palestinians’ cultivated lands and uprooted several fruitful trees in the process.
According to Abu Salah the project makes part of an Israeli plan to annex more Palestinian lands to nearby illegal settlement and to tighten noose around farmers’ necks.
Activist Hassan Brijiyeh also said the IOA imposed the project by force despite the objections frequently made by the Palestinians.
He warned of Israel’s daily violations of Palestinians’ land rights and arbitrary confiscation of the Khader lands in favor of illegal settlement expansion.
Brijiyeh appealed to local authorities and international organizations to urge the Israeli occupation to stop such an unabated scramble for Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank.
According to data from the Land Research Center 1580 dunums of Palestinian lands in Bethlehem were confiscated by the IOA last year out of a total of 6300 confiscated dunums.
