Israeli occupation authorities have filed a complaint against Palestinian Bedouins refusing to leave Al-Araqib village in the southern Negev, Quds Press reported yesterday.
Aziz Al-Araqib, a resident of the village, said that the Israeli occupation authorities have been asking for a fine worth $500,000 as expenses for the Israeli bulldozers which have razed the village 95 times.
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Israeli authorities are “asking us to pay only for the first eight demolitions”, he said, adding that he expects authorities to ask for millions of dollars for the other 87 demolitions.
“The Israeli occupation failed to force villagers to leave their village,” Aziz said. “Therefore, the occupation is using different ways, including the judiciary and requesting massive fines.”
In 2014, the Israeli occupation authorities imposed fines on the villagers under the pretext of “contempt of Israeli courts” because they failed to obey orders calling for them to leave the village. Aziz said that the villagers have been moving from one court to another since 2010.
He said that the Israeli authorities accuse them of unjustly seizing state land and building houses without licenses. He reiterated that Al-Araqib residents have documents proving ownership of the land, but the Israeli occupation refuses to recognise them.
Al-Araqib is among 51 unrecognised villages. The Israeli occupation has been demolishing them and displacing their residents to build Jewish settlements.
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