Israeli bulldozers enter Artas village near Bethlehem, group of peace activists attempt to stop them

Saturday May 19, 2007 20:46 by IMEMC - News

At least fifty peace activists decided to stay overnight outside of Artas village where Israeli army bulldozers came to prepare for the construction of the wall. Eyewitnesses told IMEMC that the army left the construction site but remaind near.

Saturday at night, Israeli bulldozers backed by an Israeli military force entered the village of Artas south of Bethlehem in the West Bank.

A number of Palestinian and International peace activists arrived at the site in an attempt to stop the bulldozers.

Troops threatened to remove tents which activists had setup on Wednesday to maintain presence at the site where Israeli army is planning to bulldoze the land to build the wall.

Constructing the wall as planned by the Israeli government it will isolate wide areas of farmland which wll separate the farmers from their main source of livelihood.

The Popular Committee against the wall and settlements launched a campaign under the title, "Stop the Bleeding of Bethlehem" which aimsat waging nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation in Bethlehem area.

bethlehem | non-violent action | news report news at imemc dot org