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JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces raided a number of Bedouin communities east of Jerusalem on Thursday days after handing them demolition and evacuation orders, a local activist said.

Popular committee spokesman Hani Halabiya told Ma'an that dozens of Israeli soldiers entered the Bedouin communities escorted by a bulldozer while an Israeli military plane circled above.

He added that the bulldozer demolished the walls surrounding homes and land in the Khillet al-Qamar area in Abu Dis without warning.

Halabiya warned that the demolitions in Khillet al-Qamar were part of Israel's larger plan to "displace" the 14,000 Bedouins living in nearly two dozen communities across the West Bank.

Over the last week, the Palestinian agriculture and foreign affairs ministers as well as 42 local, Israel, and international organizations have condemned the plans, which call for the Bedouins to be resettled in two towns.

Critics say the move is intended to clear up thousands of acres of lands for the construction of more Jewish settlements in the West Bank, especially in the critical E1 corridor that cuts across the heart of the West Bank between Jerusalem and Jericho.

Israeli authorities, however, have denied that the plans are a covert attempt at the forcible transfer of Palestinians, instead comparing them to efforts to improve quality of life for some of the 90,000 Bedouins within Israel itself.

Palestinians in Israel, however, had widely protested similarly moves against their communities there.
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by IMEMC News & Agencies Report

A number of Bedouin communities east of Jerusalem were raided by Israeli forces,on Thursday, just days after residents were served demolition and evacuation orders.

Popular committee spokesman Hani Halabiya told Ma'an News Agency that dozens of soldiers entered the Khillet al-Qamar area in Abu Dis, escorted by a bulldozer, as a military plane circled above.

The bulldozer then proceeded to demolish walls surrounding homes and lands in the area without warning.

Mr. Halabiya stated that the demolitions were part of a larger Israeli plan to displace some 14,000 Bedouins living in nearly two dozen communities across the West Bank.

Ma'an reports that, over the past week, Palestinian agriculture and foreign affairs ministers, in additiona to 42 local and international organizations, including Israeli, have condemned the plans, which aim to relocate the Beoduins into two towns.

The move is said to be directed at clearing thousands of acres of lands for the construction of more Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank, with special focus on the E1 corridor which cuts across the heart of the West Bank, between Jerusalem and Jericho.

Israeli authorities have denied that the plans are a covert attempt at the forcible transfer of Palestinian Bedouins but, rather, intend to improve quality of life for some of the 90,000 Bedouin Israeli citizens.

Palestinians in Israel, however, have witnessed similiar moves against their communities, according to Ma'an.