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RAMALLAH, July 21, 2011 (WAFA) – Israeli bulldozers early Thursday uprooted dozens of long-standing olive trees belonging to three Palestinian families southwest of Beit Iksa, a village in Jerusalem, according to witnesses.

Farmers told WAFA that Israeli bulldozers uprooted the olive trees planted in the lands adjacent to Ramot, a Jewish settlement illegally built on Beit Iksa land, to build a wall around the remaining south and west parts of the village after sealing it off with the Apartheid Wall.

Hamada Gaith, one of the land owners, called upon all parties concerned to intervene and pressure the Israeli authorities to stop destroying agricultural lands, the main source of livelihood for village residents after they were banned by Israeli authorities from working in Israel.

Dozens of Beit Iksa residents are currently still trying to stop the bulldozers from destroying their agricultural lands.

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities arrested Palestine TV crew as they were covering the incident, in addition to a number of Beit Iksa residents who were trying to stop the bulldozers.