The Israeli Civil Administration is planning to confiscate 1,200 dunams (1.2 square kilometres) of land from Palestinian villages in the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus, a local monitor said today.

Ghassan Dhaglas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank for the Palestinian Authority, told Ma’an News Agencythat Israeli authorities gave Palestinian residents of the villages of Al-Lubban Al-Sharqiya, Al-Sawiya and Qaryut notice to confiscate 1,200 dunams of land.

According to the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem, Israeli authorities over the decades have seized land near Qaryut to establish the illegal settlements of Eli, Shilo and Mizpe Rahel, at least ten settlement outposts, as well as two military bases.

The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

(MEMO)