<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Village council: Israeli soldiers destroy trees in&nbsp;Al-Walaja]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><img src="https://i2.wp.com/www.maannews.net/images/345x230/142040_345x230.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<div class="ViewDetails_BodyDiv">Maan News Agency | Sept 6, 2011</div>
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<p>BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) &#8212; Israeli soldiers uprooted a number of trees on Monday in the village of Al-Walaja, north of Bethlehem, the official Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA reported.</p>
<p>Saleh Khalifa, head of the village council, said that soldiers entered the village Monday morning and cut down olive trees to make way for a section of the separation wall.</p>
<p>Israeli forces also blocked the main entrances to the village, Khalifa added.</p>
<p>He called on rights groups to intervene to prevent the destruction of Palestinian land.</p>
<p>Earlier in September, EU representatives said they were &#8220;deeply concerned&#8221; by the impact of the Israeli separation wall on the village, saying it &#8220;will cut off much of the village&#8217;s land,&#8221; preventing residents from accessing their property and agricultural land.</p>
<p>Upon completion the wall will completely &#8220;encircle&#8221; the village, EU representatives said, leaving only a single access road connecting the village to the West Bank.</p>
<p>The separation wall is illegal in all areas built on occupied land, they added.</p>
<p>As well as mounting legal challenges to the route, residents hold regular demonstrations against the impact of the wall.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=417816">Source</a></p>
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