Smotrich: We are building Israel by cutting down Palestinian forests
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as Minister in the Ministry of Defense, announced today that the Israeli Civil Administration has removed approximately 3,000 trees planted by Palestinians in the northern West Bank, claiming they are on state land.
TL;DR
- Approximately 3,000 trees planted by Palestinians in the northern West Bank have been removed by the Israeli Civil Administration.
- The trees were located on about 20 hectares of land near the Shakak industrial park, close to the Shaked settlement.
- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated the land is state land and its clearing will allow for the expansion of the industrial park and construction of a new settlement.
- Smotrich framed the action as 'building Israel' and 'destroying the idea of a Palestinian state'.
- The removal of trees is part of a pattern of similar actions by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
- Data from 2018 indicates that 99.8% of state land allocated for use in the West Bank is designated for Israeli settlements.