Israeli forces have begun extensive bulldozing of Palestinian-owned agricultural land southeast of Bethlehem, according to the Al-Baydar Organisation.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said the operations are taking place along the main road extending from the Gush Etzion area through the towns of Tuqu\u2019 and Al-Maniya to the village of Kisan.<\/p>\n
The group said the bulldozing is being carried out under the pretext of widening the road, but has directly damaged Palestinian agricultural land on both sides of the route.<\/p>\n
According to Al-Baydar, the works form part of ongoing measures that alter realities on the ground through the gradual seizure of farmland under infrastructure-related justifications, affecting agricultural property and land use in the area.<\/p>\n
The organisation warned that the continuation of such policies threatens the livelihoods of Palestinian families in the targeted communities, particularly those dependent on farming as a primary source of income, and could worsen economic and living conditions.<\/p>\n