BEIT SAHOUR, West Bank / PNN / Monjed Jadou Palestinian officials in the city of Beit Sahour say a recently announced Israeli land seizure in the eastern area known as Ash al-Ghrab threatens the city's last remaining space for future urban expansion, prompting a diplomatic, legal and public campaign to challenge the move.
Beit Sahour Mayor Laith Qumsieh said Israeli authorities recently issued an order to seize 92 dunums of land in Ash al-Ghrab, an area that the municipality has managed and developed over the past two decades.
Speaking to PNN, Qumsieh said the municipality had invested heavily in the site, establishing public facilities including sports grounds, a children's park, recreational areas and an events hall that serve local residents. All of these facilities are now at risk under the Israeli confiscation order.
"The threat extends far beyond the loss of municipal facilities," Qumsieh said. "Ash al-Ghrab represents the only remaining area available for Beit Sahour's future urban and economic expansion."
He explained that the city is effectively surrounded, with the Israeli separation barrier and the settlement of Har Homa (Abu Ghneim) to the north, Bethlehem bordering it to the west and south, and the eastern area remaining the only available direction for future growth.
Qumsieh also noted the agricultural importance of the targeted land, particularly for the cultivation of faqous, a traditional cucumber-like crop for which Beit Sahour is well known. However, increasing settler harassment and restrictions have prevented many farmers from accessing and cultivating their land, leaving significant areas unused. The mayor said the municipality is pursuing two parallel strategies to challenge the confiscation.
The first involves diplomatic outreach to Palestinian ambassadors, international organisations and partner municipalities abroad. Several solidarity delegations and international visitors have already toured the area to assess conditions on the ground and help raise awareness internationally.
The second track focuses on legal action. Qumsieh said the municipality is working with the St. Yves legal centre, the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlements, the Patriarchate and the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ) to support affected landowners and defend property rights.
As part of these efforts, the municipality plans to establish a legal clinic that will provide residents with legal advice and assistance in pursuing land-related cases.
According to Qumsieh, the land was originally expropriated by the Jordanian government in 1964 before coming under Israeli military control following the 1967 Middle East war. Roughly two decades ago, the Israeli military withdrew from the area, allowing the municipality to develop the site for public use.
"We remain committed to standing alongside residents and providing all available legal support to defend their rights and their land," he said.
Qumsieh urged residents to work closely with the municipality, stressing the importance of cultivating and maintaining ownership of their lands.
"The presence of people on their land and its continued cultivation strengthens ownership claims and helps protect it from confiscation," he said. He also called on Palestinians, members of the Palestinian diaspora and supporters of Palestine around the world to help raise awareness about the situation facing the city and the threats posed by settlement expansion.
Meanwhile, municipal council member and journalist Rana Abu Farha said media coverage remains one of the most effective tools available to confront settlement policies and land confiscation.
Speaking to PNN, Abu Farha said local and international media outlets, as well as social media platforms, play a crucial role in communicating the Palestinian narrative to international audiences, particularly in Western countries.
She recalled recently meeting an American community activist who said she regularly follows developments in Palestine through PNN, highlighting the growing importance of independent media in shaping international awareness.
"Every article, report and social media post contributes to exposing settlement policies and documenting what is happening on the ground," Abu Farha said.
She argued that many people in Western societies continue to have a limited understanding of conditions in the occupied West Bank, often assuming that daily life remains relatively stable despite the expansion of settlements and increasing settler attacks. According to Abu Farha, Beit Sahour is one of many Palestinian communities facing sustained settlement pressure.
She called on journalists, activists and residents, particularly those from Beit Sahour, to intensify efforts to communicate the city's concerns internationally.
Abu Farha also highlighted the role of the Palestinian diaspora, noting that expatriate communities have often responded quickly and effectively to national and humanitarian causes.
She said Beit Sahour has a large diaspora community, especially in the United States, which could play a significant role in supporting efforts to oppose the confiscation plans in Ash al-Ghrab.
"The issue is not only about land," she said. "It concerns the future of our children, our communities and our ability to remain on our land."
She pointed out that the area includes educational facilities attended by local students, adding that the presence of settlers nearby raises concerns among families about the safety of their children.
Abu Farha stressed that confronting the plans requires a combination of diplomatic, popular and media efforts both inside and outside Palestine.
She encouraged residents to maintain a visible presence on their land and urged Palestinians abroad to continue sharing information and advocating for Palestinian rights through all available channels.
In addition, Deputy Mayor Elias Khair Abu Salem said strengthening the resilience of residents living in and around Ash al-Ghrab must remain a top priority.
Speaking to PNN, Abu Salem said settlers regularly enter the area, harass residents and attempt to prevent them from accessing their property.
"We need a unified effort from all national institutions and the wider community to reinforce people's steadfastness and send a clear message that this land is Palestinian," he said.
He added that the municipality maintains continuous coordination with official bodies and national institutions and that additional public and national initiatives are expected in the coming months. Abu Salem urged Palestinians to remain united in the face of what he described as ongoing attacks on Palestinian land and rights.
He also called for greater public presence in Ash al-Ghrab as a means of reinforcing Palestinian ownership and preserving the community's connection to the area.
While encouraging residents to cultivate and maintain their land, he said Israeli restrictions continue to limit access and are often accompanied by threats and intimidation.
According to local residents cited by Abu Salem, some Palestinians have even been warned against approaching certain plots of land under threat of being shot.
Despite these challenges, he said, settlers continue to enter the area almost daily while claiming ownership of land belonging to Palestinian residents.
"None of this will weaken the determination of the people of Beit Sahour to remain on their land and defend it," Abu Salem said.
He called on all Palestinian institutions, whether governmental, civil society or community-based, to provide greater support to residents facing land confiscation and settlement expansion.
"The steadfastness of our people on their land remains the first line of defence against settlement projects," he said. "Protecting Ash al-Ghrab is a collective responsibility that requires the efforts of everyone."