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Photo: Makhrour home demolished, Beit Jala (WAFA)

by George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli military bulldozers demolished on Tuesday morning four houses in the town of Beit Jala near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem Palestinian media sources reported.

Residents of Beit Jala said two bulldozers, accompanied by a number of Israeli military vehicles and police, invaded the neighbourhood in the early hours of the morning and bulldozed the houses and removed 55 electricity poles in the Makhrour neighbourhood which resulted in a power blackout in the entire neighbourhood.

A demolished house owner told media that he received a warrant on March 5, and had retained a lawyer to follow up with the issue. He was, however, surprised by the demolition this morning.

The Israeli military claim they have sent warrants out in 2005, however, the resident said they have received nothing before March 5. The same owner added that he found the warrant in front of the door under a small stone.

On his part, the Mayor of Bethlehem said the municipality is trying to restore the power to the area as a temporary relief for the residents.

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Israeli Forces Demolish 4 Houses, Uproot Electric Poles in Beit Jala

BETHELEHEM, April 3, 2012 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Tuesday Stormed al-Makhrour area in Beit Jala city, north of Bethlehem, demolished four Palestinian houses, uprooted 52 electric poles and cut off electricity power to 12 houses, according to a local activist.

Mazen al-Azzah, from the Popular Committee against Settlements and the Apartheid Wall in Bethlehem, said that Israeli bulldozers protected by Israeli forces along with officers from the civil administration stormed the the area at dawn, demolished four houses and uprooted 52 electric poles at a distance of 2.5 kilometers, cutting off electricity power to 12 Palestinian houses in an attempt to force the residents to leave the area as a prelude to seize it.

T.R./F.R.