FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 October, 2007
Palestinian villagers from al Mazra al Qiblya will again protest the illegal confiscation and cultivation of their agricultural land by Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Talmon, who over 2 months ago leveled nearly 500 dunums of land and planted grape vines on it.
The state of Israel claims that villagers were informed of the land confiscation in the early eighties, however villagers challenge this statement. Although this is being challenged legally, settlers have nonetheless already planted grape vines, the first step in taking over Palestinian land and absorbing it into a settlement.
This phenomenon of cultivating so-called ‘uncultivated land’ in Palestinian regions is widespread and often results in the annexation of the land into the illegal Israeli settlements. It is important to note that this is a process being sanctioned by the State of Israel, which is essentially giving permission to Israeli settlers to illegally take over land for private business and expansion purposes.
Palestinian villagers from al Mazra al Qiblya have already protested this land grab and will continue to do so.
The popular committee against the wall and villagers from Al Mazra al Qiblya, along with Israeli and international activists, will meet at the village mosque, at 12 noon and will leave following the noon prayer
Shared taxis leave from the Birzeit servis area near al Manarah in Ramallah.
For more information, contact:
ISM Media Office, 0599-943-157, 0542-103-657