Israel dismantles new Palestinian protest camp in the West Bank

The camp was set up on Friday to protest against Israel's plans to confiscate 50 hectares of land from the West Bank village of Beit Iksa.

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BEIT IKSA, WEST BANK // The Israeli army today removed a Palestinian protest encampment of four tents and a building under construction near a Palestinian village, military sources said.

In addition to demolishing the structures near Beit Iksa, on the north-western outskirts of Jerusalem, "20 Palestinians at the site were evicted without incident", the sources said.

On Sunday night, the army issued "invasion removal orders" to the encampment, saying three of the tents and the building were on land owned by Israel, and the fourth tent was on the route of a planned separation barrier.

Activists on Friday set up the encampment to protest against Israel's intention to confiscate at least 50 hectares of land near the village, naming the camp Bab Al Karama, Arabic for Gate of Dignity.

Bab Al Karama was inspired by a separate Palestinian protest camp of 24 tents set up on a disputed piece of land on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem that was dismantled by police last week.

Activists had established that camp, which they dubbed Bab Al Shams in a bid to draw attention to Israeli plans to build in the area, known as E1.