Israel detains 17, uproots olive trees in West Bank

By Awad al-Rujoub
RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Israeli forces rounded up 17 Palestinians in raids across the West Bank on Tuesday, while military bulldozers destroyed dozens of olive trees in the occupied territory, according to a Palestinian NGO.

The Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a statement that 11 Palestinians were detained in Jerusalem, two in Ramallah, two in Bethlehem and two in Hebron.

Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers destroyed 50 dunums (12.3 acres) of farmland, including olive trees, in Suba village, west of Hebron city, according to Ahmed Barbosh, the landowner’s son.

On Monday, the Israeli authorities handed over orders to 12 Palestinians for the demolition of their structures, including homes and tents, in Khirbet Zanuts village, south of Hebron.

A researcher at the Israeli B'Tselem rights group said the demolition orders will displace around 300 Palestinians in the area.

International law views both the West Bank and East Jerusalem as occupied territories and considers all Jewish settlement-building activities there illegal.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara