A colonist starts the groundwork for the construction of a settler-only road in Jericho

JERICHO: A colonist today started the groundwork for the construction of a settler-only road in the Al-Ma'rajat area, northwest of Jericho. Hassan Mleihat, the supervisor of the Al-Baidar organization for defending the rights of the Bedouins, said that a colonist escorted a bulldozer into Al-Ma'rajat area, proceeded to build the road leading to a colonial outpost. Mleihat added that this colonial pastoral outpost was established more than a year ago with the aim of seizing Palestinian lands in order to force them to abandon their area. In a related context, Israeli colonists today raided Al-Minya area, southeast of Bethlehem. The head of the Minya village council, Zayed Kawazbeh, said for the third day in a row, a group of colonists threatened the Palestinian shepherds in Al-Minya area to leave their lands and homes, otherwise they would be subjected to continuous harassment and attacks. Kawazbah said that local residents confronted the colonists and prevented them from approaching their homes and tents. Earlier yesterday, colonists attacked Palestinian herders, during which the occupation forces fired tear gas and sound bombs at them, causing several suffocation cases. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA