Ancient Olive Trees Uprooted in Beit Jala

The bulldozers working in the ancient olive grove to clear path for a new section of the Wall were met by Palestinian, Israeli and international demonstrators who tried to stop the uprooting

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An olive tree uprooted to clear path for the Wall. Picture credit: Anne Paq/Activestills.org
An olive tree uprooted to clear path for the Wall. Picture credit: Anne Paq/Activestills.org

Dozens of protesters rallied in the village of Beit Jala near Bethlehem today, to halt the the bulldozing of olive trees being uprooted to clear path for a section of Israel's Wall.

A demonstrator dragged away by Border Police officers after trying to obstruct the bulldozers. Picture credit: Anne Paq/Activestills.org
A demonstrator dragged away by Border Police officers after trying to obstruct the bulldozers. Picture credit: Anne Paq/Activestills.org

Protesters who attempted to prevent the bulldozers from approaching the trees were dragged on the ground by the soldiers and Border Police officers, as they refused to leave.

The Israeli bulldozers began working in the area yesterday, and roughly 70 trees have already been uprooted in the ancient grove, that is located along the segregated Tunnels Road from Jerusalem to beit Jala. According to a military confiscation decree handed to the villagers, the path of the Wall will stretch over 4890 meters between Beit Jala and the village of Wallaja, confiscating 280 dunams and affecting 35 families, whose homes may be slated for demolition.