Israel bans Palestinian from reclaiming own land

Israeli forces Thursday handed a Palestinian farmer in Artas, a village south of Bethlehem in West Bank, a notice banning him from reclaiming his land located near Etzion settlement bloc, a local activist said Thursday. Member of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Bethlehem Hasan Breijeh said the Israeli notice alleged that landowner Ali Abu Suwi had "unlawfully" paved a road in a section of the land in question, claiming it was a state land, (WAFA) news agency reported. However, Abu Suwi has presented legal documents proving ownership of land. Breijeh said Israeli forces forced Abu Suwi to destroy the road after it was paved and warned him against working on his land. Palestinians residing around Etzion settlement are repeatedly harassed and targeted by Israeli settlers and soldiers in ongoing attempts to force them out of their land for settlement expansion.