ON LAND DAY; PALESTINIANS PLANT 200 OLIVE SAPLINGS IN AL-KHADER

Al-Khader-West Bank, 19 Jumadil Awwal 1434/31 March 2013 (MINA) -Marking the 37th Anniversary of the Palestinian Land Day, Palestinians in Al-Khader town, near the West Bank Palestinian city of Bethlehem, planted 200 Olive saplings amidst ongoing settler attacks against Palestinian orchards and lands in the area.

“The olive saplings have been planted in Shoshhala area that was illegally confiscated by the army in 1967 after Israeli occupied the rest of Palestine, and Israel is ongoing with its illegal attempts to confiscate the lands, in order to expand nearby illegal settlements”, Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Al-Khader told the Radio Bethlehem 2000, accordint to IMEMC reports monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

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Salah said that, just one day ago, the settlers uprooted 200 olive saplings in Al-Khader under the pretext that the orchards in question “belong to Israeli settlements”.

The Palestinians started marking land day 37 years ago after Israel illegally decided to steal, and stole, thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands, especially in the Galilee in 1976.

Back then, the Palestinians in historic Palestine declared a massive strike to protest the illegal Israeli decision before Israeli tanks rolled into Arab villages, reoccupying them, and killing six Palestinians in addition to injuring dozens of Palestinians

Land Day became a symbol of steadfastness and nonviolent resistance against the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine, and against Israel’s ongoing illegal confiscation of Palestinian lands and orchards in different parts of Palestine, not only in the 1948 territories, but also in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem.

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Following the illegal Israeli decision in 1976, Palestinians in historic Palestine declared a strike, and held massive nonviolent protests before being faced with brutal Israeli military force in different Arab towns and villages.

The outcome of the Israeli military violence back then led to the death of six Palestinians, four were killed by Israeli military fire, and two were killed by Israeli Police fire, dozens were wounded and the Police and the army kidnapped hundreds of Palestinians. (T/P02/P03)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)