Palestinians condemn construction of Israeli settlement on historic Bethlehem site

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) issued a warning on Saturday regarding the proposed establishment of an illegal settlement outpost at an archaeological site in southern West Bank’s Bethlehem, the Anadolu news agency reported. 

The PLO's National Bureau for the Defence of Land condemned the establishment of the Nahal Heletz outpost, which is situated on land belonging to the village of Battir.

It said that the outpost poses a significant threat to the heritage of Battir, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

This outpost is one of five illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank that were approved by the Israeli government in June.  

These settlements aim to connect illegal Israeli settlements around Jerusalem and Bethlehem other illegal settlements to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc. 

The PLO said that the establishment of Nahal Heletz would effectively isolate Battir, with its rich cultural heritage, and neighbouring Palestinian villages from Bethlehem and the rest of the occupied West Bank, contravening international guidelines for preserving world heritage sites. 

Battir was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2014 as an emergency measure due to plans to build part of Israel's West Bank separation barrier through its lands.  

The village is known for its traditional agricultural practices and its picturesque agricultural terraces. 

The latest wave of condemnations comes as Israeli authorities recently announced plans to establish a new illegal settlement in Jabal al-Makhrur, located close to the town of Beit Jala near Bethlehem.  

The move has sparked outrage and concern, particularly among Palestinian Christians, who regard the area as a significant cultural and religious landmark. 

According to local Palestinian media, Israeli settlers, with the support of the Israeli army, have begun forcibly expelling residents from the area, which has been declared a closed military zone.  

This has sparked a fierce response from the local community, many of whom are staging a sit-in protest in a tent, refusing to leave despite ongoing Israeli attacks. 

Israeli tallies suggest that over 720,000 illegal Israeli settlers currently reside in settlements across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. 

Since 7 October, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 703 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to reports from the United Nations.  

In Gaza, Israel’s indiscriminate military campaign has killed at least 41,206 Palestinians, most of them women and children.