May 1, 2012

HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Tuesday demolished farm buildings near Hebron in the southern West Bank, witnesses said.

Israeli army vehicles and bulldozers demolished two stables, measuring 750 square meters and 400 square meters, as well as a poultry barn and two sheds, locals told Ma'an.

The structures belonged to Iyad Muhammad Rajabi, his brother Imad and their cousins Sharif and Mahmoud.

Earlier Tuesday, Israeli authorities demolished a house poles near Qalqiliya, locals told Ma'an.

The building, which was still under construction, lies at the entrance of Izbat At-Tabib village and belongs to Zidan Yaser Tabib.

Forces also removed 13 electricity poles used by neighboring Nabi Elyas village to power a water well, residents said.

Last week local director of the UN's humanitarian agency Ramesh Rajasingham warned that more than 1,500 Palestinians have lost their homes as a result of demolitions and evictions since the beginning of 2011.

Palestinians can only build on 1 percent of the Israeli-controlled zone Area C in the West Bank, most of which is already built up, while settlements continue to expand in the same zone, the UN says.

Source