Israeli Bulldozers Raze Agricultural Land in Palestinian Village near Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM, (WAFA) – On Monday Israeli bulldozers razed agricultural land in Walaja, a Palestinian village southwest of Bethlehem, local sources said.

Saleh Khalifa, the head of the village council, said a large unit of Israeli soldiers accompanied bulldozers which entered the village at dawn, closing the area under restricted security measures.

The bulldozers destroyed around 100 olive, fig and almond trees and razed large areas of land in a continued effort in building and expanding Israel's security barrier, Khalifa added.

Mr. Khalifa continued by saying that, Israeli efforts in bulldozing the village's agricultural lands began in September. The land is being taken over and its residents displaced in order to build Israeli settlements and for the continued construction of Israels security wall, both considered illegal under international law.