Israeli bulldozers raze Qalqiliya village lands

Israeli forces accompanied bulldozers that razed through Palestinian-owned lands near Qalqiliya on Sunday, locals said. The vehicles cut down trees and leveled ground belonging to farmers from nearby village Azzun Atma, residents said. Local farmer Ibrahim Abdullah told Ma'an the area was bulldozed to "ensure security for settlements which they originally confiscated from Palestinian citizens." An Israeli army spokesman said he was not familiar with the incident, and Israel's Civil Administration could not be reached for comment. Azzun Atma lies between Israeli settlements Oranit and Shaare Tiqwa, and locals fear Israeli authorities plan to construct a no-go zone on the most fertile land of the village to buffer the settlements. The real aim of the bulldozing is to expand settlements at the expense of Palestinian farmers, Abdullah warned.