Settlers put up illegal outpost in UNESCO heritage area in West Bank — report

Residents of the village of Battir say the settlement has prevented them from accessing their lands

Israeli settlers in the West Bank have attempted to set up a new outpost in an area designated as a UNESCO heritage site.

The outpost was set up last week on a hill near the Palestinian village of Battir, designated as a World Heritage Site in 2014, Haaretz reported on Tuesday.

The village is famed for its ancient terraces and Roman-era irrigation system, which is still used by villagers for their crops.

The landscape encompasses a series of agricultural valleys with stone terraces irrigated for the production of vegetables, vines and olive trees.

It is dotted with ancient villages, fortifications and graves.

Battir is located next to the Green Line separating Israel and the West Bank, with the area one of the last remaining openings to the West Bank from southern Jerusalem.

Palestinian farmer Elayan Shami, 62, plants eggplants in a maze to direct the water downhill from one terrace to another in his field in the West Bank village of Battir in May. (photo credit: AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

Mohammad Abidallah, a member of the Battir village council, told Haaretz that the settlers put a trailer on the site for living quarters, and set up a sheep pen.

He also said this is the fourth time settlers have attempted to establish an outpost in the area.

The land’s private owners requested that Israel’s Civil Administration remove the new outpost and said they are unable to access their land, the report said.

Palestinian media said residents have since managed to dislodge the settlers from the site.

UNESCO, the Civil Administration and the Defense Ministry did not comment on the report.