The Israeli occupation authorities started the construction of a new separation wall dismembering Palestinian communities in Deir Balout west of Salfit.
Deir Ballout mayor Yahya Mustafa said the construction of the wall dovetails Israeli works to expand Leshem settlement at the expense of Palestinian lands in Rafat and Kafr al-Dick towns.
Local farmer Idris Abdullah said the settlement activities led to the confiscation of parts of his land lots in the area and that the apartheid fence is just a few meters away from his family’s home.
He added that the occupation authorities have repeatedly threatened to confiscate his lands and olive groves located east of Deir Ballout.
Researcher Khaled Maali said dozens of olive trees were uprooted and huge rocks stolen from Palestinian lands to build the wall.
Maali said the confiscation of Palestinian lands for the benefit of illegal settlement construction contravenes Article 49 and Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
