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by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Under the pretext of “military considerations”, the Israeli army informed Palestinian residents of al-Fordaes village, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, that it intends to seize large areas of their lands in al-Oqban area, the Palestine News Network (PNN) reported.

Hasan Breijieh, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Bethlehem, stated that the army placed the orders on the targeted lands, and added that the farmers found these orders when they headed there. Israel intends to seize dozens of dunams in Basin 4, and the order is effective immediately.

Breijieh added that he contacted two lawyers identified as Ghayyath Nasser and Mohammad Shqeir, to follow-up on the issue and appeal the Israeli military decision, PNN reported.

In related news, armed Israeli settlers bulldozed Palestinian agricultural lands in Khallit al-Qoton area, south of Bethlehem, in order to build a new settlement; the area in question is 1,700 Dunams (approx. 420 acres).

On Tuesday, the Israeli army issued an order for the demolition of a pool used for collecting rain water, and another order against a well is Qeizoun area, east of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

The Land Research Center said that the soldiers, and personnel of the Civil Administration (the administrative branch of the Israeli military in the West Bank), invaded the area and handed resident Alaa’ Mohammad Zalloum an order informing him that the army intends to demolish his 900 square/ meter pool, and also handed resident Obeid Abul-Raziq Zalloum an order targeting his 500 square meter well.

The Land Research Center gave the residents specific directions on preparing the documents needed to appeal the Israeli decision by heading to the Saint Eve Institution that will be handling the case, PNN said.