RAMALLAH, March 12, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli bulldozers continued on Sunday the land-razing operations in the village of ‘Azzun ‘Atma, south of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank for the benefit of expanding a nearby illegal Israeli settlement, local sources said.

Reportedly, the land in the eastern northern part of the village is frequently targeted by Israeli forces, with the intention of annexing the land to the Jewish settlement of Oranit, built illegally on Palestinian-owned land.

Abdelkarim Ayoub, the village council secretary, told WAFA Israeli bulldozers raze every now and then land that belong to Palestinians in the villages of ‘Azzun ‘Atma, Beit Amin and Seneria in order to build a new neighborhood over an area of 100 dunums of land expropriated from the three previously-mentioned villages for the expansion of the existing settlement of Ornait.

He said Israeli authorities close checkpoints at the gate in the separation barrier, blocking the villagers‘ access to their fields.

Ayoub added that such Israeli measures aim to impose a fait accompli on the ground and take over Palestinian land located behind the Apartheid Wall.

‘Azzun ‘Atma is a Palestinian village located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli military and civil control. It is surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements as well as the Apartheid Wall, which causes many difficulties to Palestinians living there.

K.T./T.R.