Israel settlers set up new settlement outpost near Nablus

Israeli settlers set up a new illegal settlement outpost on the lands of the village located near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, Arab48 reported yesterday.

According to the head of the Beita Neighbourhood Council, Fuad Maali, settlers at first erected tents on the Palestinian land, then mobile homes and are currently working on building electricity and telecommunication grids, as well as network of waterpipes, noting that the settlers gave it the name of Bitar.

Maali said that the Palestinians are afraid that the settlers are working to change this outpost to a settlement that would, in the future, expand and annex more Palestinian land.

Nablus is surrounded by more than 40 Israeli Jewish settlements and outposts with settlers continuing to encroach on Palestinian lands to expand these illegal settlements and outposts under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation authorities do not issue building licenses to Palestinians in the area in an effort to force them to leave their lands.

Israeli settlements are illegal according to international law.

Read: Israel politicians urge annexation of West Bank settlements