Israeli Military Orders Seize Land, Remove Trees Near Bethlehem Settlements
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Israeli occupation authorities have issued four military orders affecting Palestinian land in the Bethlehem governorate, including land seizures and mandatory tree removal. The orders target areas near settlements like Efrat, Tekoa, Neve Daniel, and Rosh Tzurim. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission stated these actions aim to reshape Palestinian land use through military and security powers. Landowners face tight deadlines for compliance and objections, with significant agricultural and economic impacts.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli authorities issued four military orders impacting Palestinian land in Bethlehem.
- Orders include seizure of 4,708 dunams and removal of vegetation from 10,085 dunams.
- The actions target areas near Efrat, Tekoa, Neve Daniel, and Rosh Tzurim settlements.
- The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission condemned the orders as reshaping land use.
- Landowners face strict deadlines for compliance and objections, risking agricultural losses.
Israeli occupation authorities have issued four military orders targeting Palestinian land in the Bethlehem governorate, according to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission. The orders, dated October 28, 2026, involve the seizure of 4,708 dunams (approximately 11.6 acres) of land in Al-Khader and Arab Ta'amra, and the removal of trees and vegetation from 10,085 dunams (approximately 25 acres) in Nahhalin.
The commission stated that these orders combine direct military seizure of routes and sites with the imposition of tree removal around settlements, indicating the use of military and security powers to reshape Palestinian land use. One seizure order, (147/26), targets 4.408 dunams in Al-Khader, specifically within areas designated as basins 7, 9, and 10, for a 878-meter route near the Efrat settlement, linked to a project for establishing a tower. This route extends through terraced agricultural land, bringing a strip of it under direct military control.
Another seizure order, (164/26), affects 300 square meters of land in Arab Ta'amra, near the Tekoa settlement, involving adjustments to security components and targeting specific points for the settlement's security infrastructure. Both seizure orders are valid until December 31, 2028, granting the occupation authorities exclusive possession of the designated areas.
In Nahhalin, two orders focus on removing vegetation. Order (101/26) targets 0.968 dunams for the removal of pine trees and wild plants near the Neve Daniel settlement. Order (140/26) targets 9.117 dunams near the Rosh Tzurim settlement, mandating the removal of olive, almond trees, and wild plants. These orders are issued along roads and agricultural fields, threatening productive trees and the continuation of agricultural land use.
The commission highlighted that the removal orders require landowners to carry out the clearing within seven days of a scheduled meeting, with the possibility of the occupation forces carrying it out if landowners fail to comply. The timeframe for objections also coincides with the removal deadline, placing landowners under immediate time pressure. The removal of fruit-bearing trees will result in the loss of a productive resource that requires years to replace.
The commission emphasized that the concentration of these orders in the Bethlehem governorate demonstrates the multifaceted military intervention around the settlements of Efrat, Tekoa, Neve Daniel, and Rosh Tzurim. The extended route in Al-Khader, scattered security sites in Arab Ta'amra, and tree removal zones in Nahhalin impose military and security uses within Palestinian areas, cumulatively altering the relationship between Palestinians and their land.