Israel threatens to demolish 189 homes in Bethlehem

The Israeli occupation authorities have threatened to demolish more than 189 houses in Al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem, local media reported yesterday.

The head of the anti-wall and settlements committee at the Palestinian Authority (PA), Walid Assaf, told the Voice of Palestine radio station that the demolitions carried out by the occupation in Al-Walaja comes within the framework of an illegal Israeli settlement plan to expand southern borders of the occupied Jerusalem and linking it to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.

Assaf pointed out that on Monday’s evening, tents and urgent relief were provided to families whose houses were demolished by the Israeli army.

The Palestinian official stressed that “quick solutions” must be attained, otherwise “a number of Palestinian families will remain homeless.”