Israel breaks into Al-Araqeeb, demolishes homes for 141th time

Israeli army vehicles and bulldozers demolished houses in the village of Al-Araqeeb, in the south and displaced their residents for the 141st time, despite the stormy and cold weather.

According to some of the residents of Al-Araqeeb, the police stormed the village this afternoon using reinforcement forces to protect the bulldozers and vehicles that destroyed tents and tin houses, and displaced adults and children leaving them homeless despite the harsh weather.

The residents stressed their willingness to stay in their village and rebuild the tents and houses, refusing to accept displacement from their village.

The Magistrates Court in Beersheba sentenced Sheikh Sayah Al-Tury, 69, a citizen of Al-Araqeeb, for 10 months in Al-Ramlah prison late December 2018 following the struggle of the villagers with the Israeli courts.

READ: Israel demolishes Bedouin village Al-Araqeeb for 139th time

40 charges were brought against Sheikh Al-Tury, 19 of which were related to “breaking into state lands,” 19 for “violating Israeli law and breaking into public land,” in addition to one charge related to “violating a court order.”

The Israeli authorities continue to demolish dozens of villages in the Naqab so as to confiscate hundreds of thousands of dunums of their land, as part of the plan to Judaise the Naqab. The Israeli authorities continue to build four new settlement towns there.

About 250,000 Arab Palestinians are living in Naqab desert; half of them are in villages and residential communities, established hundreds of years ago.

Israel demolishes Al-Araqeeb Village – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]