News, June  23, 2008

Israeli army uproot 500-year-old olive grove in Beit Hanina near Jerusalem

Date: 23 / 06 / 2008  Time:  17:01
Jerusalem – Ma'an -

Israeli occupation army bulldozers uprooted more than two hundred olive trees in Beit Hanina north of Jerusalem on Monday morning amid resistance by Fatah activists and other national forces.

Spokesman for the leadership of the Fatah movement in the territory of Jerusalem Dimitri Diliani said that Israeli soldiers went into the valley in the southern town of Beit Hanina and razed the 500-year-old olive grove.

He added that Fatah activists in cooperation with other national forces tried to stop them.

He said that the Israeli authorities aim is to confiscate the lands surrounding Beit Hanina as part of their policy to pressure the Arab community of Jerusalem and its surroundings.

Diliani added that a sit in will be staged in Beit Hanina on Monday afternoon in protest at the land confiscation. A peaceful protest is also due to take place on Friday to demonstrate against Israeli practices against the residents of the town.

The secretary of the Fatah movement in Beit Hanina, Muhammad Hamed Matur, said that Israeli forces have used excessive force against citizens who are defending their land.

Hatem Gharably, a member of the Fatah movement, pointed out that the Israeli aithorities have confiscated two-thirds of the town's land and are now trying to take over the remainder.

Gharably added that the townspeople are determined to oppose such Israeli practices. He appealed to the international community to take on its responsibilities in the defense of the citizens and their property.

Israeli bulldozers raze lands in Beit Hanina to construct separation wall

Date: 23 / 06 / 2008  Time:  14:55
Jerusalem - Ma'an -

Israeli bulldozers started to raze agricultural lands in the village of Beit Hanina At-Tahta on Monday morning, to construct a new part of the separation wall on the village lands.

Beit Hanina’s village council said lands were dug up in part of the village near the Israeli settlement of Ramot. Israeli occupation forces prevented residents from approaching their land, after declaring the area a closed military zone.

According to the council, the initial stage of the wall took 2,000 dunums of land from Beit Hanina and the second stage will take another 5,500 dunums.

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