Bethlehem: Israeli colonists continued on Monday to cut down trees in the lands of the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem. A local source told WAFA correspondent that colonists cut down 50 old and fruitful olive trees in the Ein Fares area west of the town, owned by local resident Ali Abu Ghayyatha.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, in previous days, colonists had also cut down 200 olive seedlings and 50 old olive trees in the same area. The head of the municipal council in Nahalin, Jamal Najajreh, had previously confirmed to WAFA that a group of colonists had established a pastoral colonial outpost in the Ein Fares area, installing two large barracks for raising livestock.
Najajreh stated that these actions would deprive citizens of their land, which spans about 2,000 dunams. He noted that the area had been subjected to repeated attacks by settlers from Beitar Illit, including the pumping of wastewater, which resulted in crop damage and water pollution.
