Israel demolishes Arab village in Negev for 87th time

Israeli authorities yesterday razed the Arab village of Al-Araqeeb in Negev, south of Israel, for the 87th time since 2010, Quds Press reported.

Activist Salim Al-Araqeeb said that the Israeli bulldozers, escorted by large numbers of Israeli policemen, stormed the village and imposed a full siege in it. The police forced the residents out of their homes, gathered them in a place near the village cemetery and demolished their houses.

Village chief Aziz Al-Touri told Quds Press: “Al-Araqeeb’s residents will not surrender to Israeli terror, will remain on our land until the last drop of blood and will defy the Israeli occupation and rebuild our homes.”

Al-Touri said the village was destroyed five days after the Defence and Defiance Rally was held to mark five years since the first Israeli demolition was carried out.

Arabs, who are Palestinians living in Negev since before the formation of the state of Israel in 1948, have faced Israel demolition campaigns against their farms and homes. Israel hopes to use the land to expand settlement and farms.

Since the start of this year, the Israeli occupation has destroyed around 100 homes and hundreds of others received demolition orders.

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