Palestinian Village Demolished for the ‘100th Time since 2010’

Local Editor

Zionists demolished the Arab village of al-Araqeeb in the Negev "for the 100th time since July 2010" and the second time since the beginning of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, locals and activists said.

"A large number of "Israeli" occupation police accompanied with bulldozers stormed the village [on Wednesday] at dawn and demolished all the houses, tents and other facilities," local activist Aziz Al-Touri told The Middle East Monitor media outlet.

However, "Israeli" authorities claimed that they leveled the village because it was constructed on state land and didn't have the "necessary building permits."

Another activist, Saleem Araqeeb, said that the demolition of the village went ahead despite a decision by the "Israeli" Higher Court that ruled al-Araqib's lands don't belong to the state, as quoted by the International Middle East Media Center.

He further added that after the decision, "Israeli" authorities filed another lawsuit urging the court to order al-Araqib's residents to pay a daily fine of 5,000 shekels [around $1280.]

Even before storming the village, "Israeli" forces had "been harassing the residents who were hiding in the village cemetery" for days, al-Touri said, adding that "the locals don't hope for things to become better."

"When we rebuild the village, we expect the "Israeli" occupation to raid and demolish it at any time," al-Touri said.

However, the residents won't give up, he added. The "oppressive and inhumane" acts against the villagers will only see their love for their land grow, the activist said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team