Israeli occupation bulldozers demolished properties in the Palestinian village of Al-Araqeeb for the 130th time this morning.
Located in the Negev desert, Al-Araqeeb is one of 51 Arab villages in the area that the Israeli occupation authorities do not recognise and which has been targeted for demolition ahead of building homes for new Jewish communities.
Entire families have once again been made homeless as a result of the demolition.
“The Israeli authorities continue their aggression against the people of Al-Araqeeb in order to uproot them from their homes and land, and seek all their means to Judaise the area. The families of Al-Araqeeb continue to take care of the area and preserve their land and dignity,” Aziz Al-Turi, member of the local Committee for the Defence of Al-Araqeeb, told Arab48.
He stressed that “no matter how aggressive and destructive the Israeli authorities are, we insist on staying in our homes and land and hold on to every grain of dust from our dear homeland, and we will not let go of Al-Araqeeb.”
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Israel has imposed fines on the villagers of Al-Araqeeb worth millions of dollars, Quds Press said, and charges them for the use of the Israeli bulldozers which carry out the demolition of their homes.
Israeli courts decide that the owners of the unlicensed homes must demolish them, but when they fail to do so, Israeli bulldozers carry out the demolitions and the owners are ordered to pay for the bulldozers.
In 1969, Israel called on Arab land owners to register their land with the authorities, but since then they have not accepted any of the applications made by Arab residents of the Negev