Jewish settlers raze Palestinian land near Bethlehem

Israeli Jewish settlers yesterday razed Palestinian farms in Al-Khader neighbourhood to the south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, Quds Press reported.

Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements representative Hassan Burjiyeh said in a statement: “A number of Israeli settlers, protected by the Israeli occupation forces, started razing the farms in the 15 dunam [0.015 square kilometre] area of Thagret Hammad.”

Burjiyeh said that the farms, which are located along the main highway between Jerusalem and Hebron, are owned by the Salah family.

The area is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Eliezer, which is built on Palestinian land owned by the same family.

Israeli authorities plan to build a religious Jewish institute in the area, Burjiyeh said.