'Israel' moves to raze 200 dunams of Palestinian farmland
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Palestinian farmers say the planned Israeli demolition of farmland near Tulkarm threatens their livelihoods and reflects growing pressure on Palestinian agriculture.
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In this Nov. 13, 2009 photo, a Palestinian man picks olives in an olive grove in the West Bank village of Qariout, northeast of Ramallah. (AP)
Israeli occupation forces have ordered the destruction of nearly 200 dunams of agricultural land in the city of Tulkarm, northwest of the West Bank, citing “security measures".
The targeted area stretches from the sewage reservoirs west of the city, past the 104 Nitzanei Oz crossing, and reaches the Bir al-Sikka area near Shweika, north of Tulkarm.
Palestinian farmers warn that the move threatens their livelihoods and accelerates the ongoing usurpation of land for settlement expansion.
According to Amir Daoud, Director General of Publishing and Documentation at the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, "Israel" has issued 22 similar military orders since the beginning of 2025, affecting 607 dunams of farmland. He described the escalation as “unprecedented", underscoring its serious impact on Palestinian agriculture and rural communities.
Rubio to raise West Bank 'annexation' plans with Netanyahu
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to discuss "Israel’s potential "annexation" of parts of the occupied West Bank during his upcoming visit, Axios reported, citing Israeli and American officials.
One Israeli official said Netanyahu wants clarity from Rubio on whether US President Donald Trump would back such a step.
Most of the international community regards the West Bank as occupied territory and views "annexation" as both illegal and destabilizing. The United Arab Emirates has already cautioned Washington and Tel Aviv that such a move could jeopardize the UAE-"Israel" normalization agreement, and damage Trump’s ambitions of expanding them.
The backdrop is a major diplomatic shift at the United Nations. On Friday, the UN General Assembly endorsed the “New York Declaration,” drafted by France and Saudi Arabia, which calls for an irreversible process toward Palestinian statehood. The resolution passed overwhelmingly, with 142 countries voting in favor, 10 opposing, including the US and "Israel", and 12 abstaining.
Trump aides boxed in amid Israeli 'annexation' debate
These principles will serve as the framework for a high-level summit supporting a "two-state solution", set to take place on September 22 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. France, the UK, Canada, and several other countries are expected to announce their recognition of Palestine at the event. Netanyahu and Rubio are scheduled to meet on Sunday and Monday.
Behind the scenes, Israeli officials told Axios that Rubio has privately signaled he does not oppose "annexation" and that the Trump administration is unlikely to obstruct it. Such reports, however, have raised concerns within the White House, where some officials fear "Israel" is attempting to box in the administration without a clear US stance.
Adding to the sensitivity, Rubio is scheduled to attend on Sunday an event organized by a settler group at an archaeological Palestinian site in Silwan, the eastern part of the al-Quds neighborhood near the al-Aqsa mosque. The senator downplayed the political implications, telling reporters on Saturday that it was simply “a visit to a historic site.”
