Holy Land: Israeli bulldozers destroy family farm near Bethlehem

Nothing remains

Israeli bulldozers leveled large tracts of Palestinian land in the Bethlehem area village of Nahalin on Monday, locals said. Head of the village council, Majid Ghayatha, said that Israeli bulldozers uprooted dozens of olive and almond trees in the Wad Salem area. Several grapevines were also destroyed. Israeli military forces deployed on hilltops above the village to prevent land owners from accessing their fields.

Locals said they believe Israeli forces are clearing land for a new road connecting the Neve Daniel and Beitar Ilit illegal settlements.

A spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories did not answer calls seeking comment.

Karen Whyte, a Christian volunteer from Coventry, who lived with the family last summer, wrote: "This morning, 1500 trees on the farm were destroyed by Israeli bulldozers. The apricot fruit was due to be harvested in June. You may remember this is where I volunteered last summer.

"It seems the Israeli's are clearing land to build a road to connect two settlements. They have cleared land around the village of Nahalin too - where I used to shop!"

"This will never hit the headlines, but I have no words...at least the family are physically unhurt. Hold them and others like them in your hearts. The family say: 'We refuse to be the enemy'".

The Tent of Nations is a family farm, surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements. They have a Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/tentofnations?fref=ts

See also: www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=698431

The Amos Trust has more information and a petition: www.amostrust.org/news/index.php?pageNo=1309&parent=1

Source: Karen Whyte/Maan News