<html>
<body>
<h1><font size=4><b>Al-Arakib Demolished For The 18th
Time</b></font></h1>
<img src="http://www.imemc.org/graphics/date.gif" width=12 height=10 alt="author">
</b></h1><font size=3> Thursday February 17, 2011
15:49<img src="http://www.imemc.org/graphics/person.gif" width=14 height=12 alt="author">
by David Steele - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial
Group <br>
<a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/60663" eudora="autourl">
http://www.imemc.org/article/60663<br><br>
</a></font>JNF (Jewish National Fund) bulldozers re-entered the village
of al-Arakib this morning and destroyed buildings that were put up after
yesterday's destruction.<a name="attachment36561"></a><br>
<br>
This is now the 18th time that al-Arakib has been destroyed in a matter
of months. The last occasion was yesterday. The Alternative Information
Centre reports that police, riot police and Special Forces were involved
in the operation, which occurred in the early hours of this morning.
Residents were barricaded into the cemetery where they had fled for
safety after yesterday's destruction and were sleeping.<br><br>
Later on, residents from the nearby city of Rahat came to al-Arakib and
demonstrated in support of the villagers. They were blocked from entering
the village and riot police opened fire with rubber bullets and tear gas.
They were chased for approximately 2 kilometers and seven were arrested,
including two children.<br><br>
Al-Arakib is a Bedouin village which pre-dates the state of Israel.
Although residents have tax receipts and deeds of ownership dating back
to the Ottoman years, the Israeli authorities do not consider these valid
and have not recognized the village. As part of Operation Blueprint
Negev, the JNF intends to plant a forest over the area presently occupied
by the village.<br><br>
<br><br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#0000FF">
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.Freedomarchives.org</a></font><font size=3> </font></body>
</html>