BETHLEHEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), A horde of extremist Jewish settlers placed, on Wednesday, several mobile homes on a swath of land in the village of Jourat ash‑Sham’ah, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, as a prelude to setting up a new illegal outpost.
Ali Salim, head of the village council, reported that settlers set up more than 10 mobile homes in the “Wadi al‑Hindi” area of the village near the separation wall.
The seized land, estimated at about 30 dunums and planted with grapevines and olive trees belonging to local families, had been bulldozed by settlers and Israeli forces about three months ago, according to Salim.
Salim warned that the new outpost would pave the way for the seizure of more land, including an entire 200-dunum basin, and ultimately prevent local landowners from accessing their property.
A few weeks ago, Israeli forces and settlers also appropriated a tract of land in the “Marah Ma’alla” area adjacent to Jourat ash‑Sham’ah village, where mobile homes were set up and infrastructure laid for another outpost.
Meanwhile, settlers stormed the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem, on Wednesday.
Local sources reported that a group of settlers entered the town and spread through the Harikat ash-Shamiya area to the east, as well as the town center, moving between homes and terrorizing local residents by making loud noises and brandishing weapons.
