1 nov 2017
With a sigh of sadness, Palestinian farmer Abdullah Mar’ee looked at his annexed plot of land in Farkha village, west of Salfit, which was once an olive grove before Israel took it over along with other vast tracts of Palestinian land and built large factories in their place.
“We planted olive saplings on 25 dunums of land in Karm Ashour area, west of Salfit, and we were happy with them, especially when we saw them starting to yield olive fruits of the Nabali type, but all of a sudden, the settlement of Ariel encroached on our land,” Abu Mar’ee said.
“They built a factory for cosmetics, another for sweets and a huge iron plant, and their bulldozers are still embarking on razing more lands belonging to us and others,” he added.
The farmer also accused the Israeli army of suppressing marches protesting Israel’s settlement activities and land grabs in the agricultural areas of Salfit.
“The occupation already quelled marches and some farmers protested near Beit El, but to no avail. They claim they are state lands and sometimes they provide security pretexts or say those lands are located in Area C to justify the annexation of Palestinian lands,” Mar’ee stated.
“Until today, there are bulldozers belonging to settlers razing and devouring lands, whether in agricultural or pastoral areas.”
“The settlement expansion reduced grazing areas and led to a decline in the number of livestock. Small rock-hewn pools in the area were also destroyed, particularly near the archaeological village of Qarqash.”
Israel’s expansion of industrial zones
For his part, specialist in settlement affairs Khalid Maali has also affirmed that the industrial zone of Ariel settlement in Salfit is encroaching and expanding around the clock.
According to him, there are three industrial zones established on agricultural and pastoral lands belonging to local residents in Salfit province.
The Israeli authorities also plan to seize more Palestinian lands in Salfit to expand its industrial zones and build others, with no regard to the negative impacts of its settlement expansion on the lives of local residents, Maali warns.
“We planted olive saplings on 25 dunums of land in Karm Ashour area, west of Salfit, and we were happy with them, especially when we saw them starting to yield olive fruits of the Nabali type, but all of a sudden, the settlement of Ariel encroached on our land,” Abu Mar’ee said.
“They built a factory for cosmetics, another for sweets and a huge iron plant, and their bulldozers are still embarking on razing more lands belonging to us and others,” he added.
The farmer also accused the Israeli army of suppressing marches protesting Israel’s settlement activities and land grabs in the agricultural areas of Salfit.
“The occupation already quelled marches and some farmers protested near Beit El, but to no avail. They claim they are state lands and sometimes they provide security pretexts or say those lands are located in Area C to justify the annexation of Palestinian lands,” Mar’ee stated.
“Until today, there are bulldozers belonging to settlers razing and devouring lands, whether in agricultural or pastoral areas.”
“The settlement expansion reduced grazing areas and led to a decline in the number of livestock. Small rock-hewn pools in the area were also destroyed, particularly near the archaeological village of Qarqash.”
Israel’s expansion of industrial zones
For his part, specialist in settlement affairs Khalid Maali has also affirmed that the industrial zone of Ariel settlement in Salfit is encroaching and expanding around the clock.
According to him, there are three industrial zones established on agricultural and pastoral lands belonging to local residents in Salfit province.
The Israeli authorities also plan to seize more Palestinian lands in Salfit to expand its industrial zones and build others, with no regard to the negative impacts of its settlement expansion on the lives of local residents, Maali warns.
30 oct 2017
Several extremist Israeli colonists opened fire, on Monday morning, at many Palestinians picking their olive orchards, in Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Rateb Jabour, a nonviolent activist against Israeli colonies in Hebron, said the colonists came from Ma’on illegal colony, which was installed on private Palestinian lands.
Jabour added that the assailants fired several live rounds at Palestinians picking their olive trees, in their own lands, in the al-Hamra area, near the at-Tiwani Palestinian village, close to the illegal colony.
He also said that, although the Israeli attack did not lead to any physical injuries, it caused anxiety attacks among the Palestinians who feared further violations.
The colonists in Ma’on carry out repeated invasions into nearby Palestinian lands and orchards, in addition to frequent assaults against the residents, including farmers and shepherds, to force them out of their lands.
The attacks witness a serious escalation during the olive harvest season, and include cutting and uprooting trees, in addition to harvesting the them and stealing the produce.
Rateb Jabour, a nonviolent activist against Israeli colonies in Hebron, said the colonists came from Ma’on illegal colony, which was installed on private Palestinian lands.
Jabour added that the assailants fired several live rounds at Palestinians picking their olive trees, in their own lands, in the al-Hamra area, near the at-Tiwani Palestinian village, close to the illegal colony.
He also said that, although the Israeli attack did not lead to any physical injuries, it caused anxiety attacks among the Palestinians who feared further violations.
The colonists in Ma’on carry out repeated invasions into nearby Palestinian lands and orchards, in addition to frequent assaults against the residents, including farmers and shepherds, to force them out of their lands.
The attacks witness a serious escalation during the olive harvest season, and include cutting and uprooting trees, in addition to harvesting the them and stealing the produce.
29 oct 2017
A group of Israeli settlers, escorted by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF), on Sunday attacked a number of Palestinian farmers and foreign peace activists who were picking olives near the city of Nablus.
The Palestinian activist Myassar Atiani told Quds Press that the settlers coming from the nearby Eli settlement and the IOF soldiers assaulted the olive pickers and confiscated the IDs of the Palestinian farmers and the passports of the foreign activists.
Atiani pointed out that the IOF soldiers, after examining the confiscated documents, informed the foreign activists that they are not allowed to enter the area again; however, the activists rejected the decision saying that they will continue to help and support the Palestinian farmers.
A similar attack was recorded in the same area on Saturday in which a number of Palestinian farmers and foreign peace activists were injured.
According to anti-settlement activists, Palestinian farmers yearly suffer heavy losses because of the settlers' attacks which are usually escalated during the annual olive harvest season to force the farmers to leave their lands so that they become an easy target for settlement projects.
The West Bank and Gaza Strip have nearly 8.5 million olive trees, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture which said that the sales of olive crops and olive oil constitute 1% of the national income.
The Palestinian activist Myassar Atiani told Quds Press that the settlers coming from the nearby Eli settlement and the IOF soldiers assaulted the olive pickers and confiscated the IDs of the Palestinian farmers and the passports of the foreign activists.
Atiani pointed out that the IOF soldiers, after examining the confiscated documents, informed the foreign activists that they are not allowed to enter the area again; however, the activists rejected the decision saying that they will continue to help and support the Palestinian farmers.
A similar attack was recorded in the same area on Saturday in which a number of Palestinian farmers and foreign peace activists were injured.
According to anti-settlement activists, Palestinian farmers yearly suffer heavy losses because of the settlers' attacks which are usually escalated during the annual olive harvest season to force the farmers to leave their lands so that they become an easy target for settlement projects.
The West Bank and Gaza Strip have nearly 8.5 million olive trees, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture which said that the sales of olive crops and olive oil constitute 1% of the national income.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly denounced the settlers’ persistence in attacking Palestinian citizens, their homes and their agricultural properties in the West Bank.
“The settlers, under the protection of the Israeli army, persist in their attacks and provocative actions, especially their assaults on farmers, their stealing of olive fruits and the burning of trees,” the ministry stated in a press release on Saturday.
“They also continue to occupy Palestinian houses every once in a while and attack homes and lands in the Jordan Valley and West Bank villages, especially those in isolated areas,” the ministry added.
It also accused settlers of having stolen olive fruits from about 6,000 trees since the beginning of the harvest season, in addition to the destruction of hundreds of fruitful trees of different types.
The ministry held the Israeli government fully responsible for providing protection for settlers’ aggressive practices in the West Bank, describing its attitude towards such violations as “organized state terrorism.”
“The settlers, under the protection of the Israeli army, persist in their attacks and provocative actions, especially their assaults on farmers, their stealing of olive fruits and the burning of trees,” the ministry stated in a press release on Saturday.
“They also continue to occupy Palestinian houses every once in a while and attack homes and lands in the Jordan Valley and West Bank villages, especially those in isolated areas,” the ministry added.
It also accused settlers of having stolen olive fruits from about 6,000 trees since the beginning of the harvest season, in addition to the destruction of hundreds of fruitful trees of different types.
The ministry held the Israeli government fully responsible for providing protection for settlers’ aggressive practices in the West Bank, describing its attitude towards such violations as “organized state terrorism.”
Israeli police on Sunday morning seized passports of foreign activists who expressed solidarity with olive pickers south of Nablus province, in the northern occupied West Bank.
Speaking with PIC, activist Wael Fakih said the Israeli forces detained a number of foreign activists as they showed up on Palestinian olive grooms in al-Sawiya, south of Nablus, and seized their passports.
The Israeli forces said they will hand over the passports back to the activists only if they leave the area, which the activists refused.
Over recent weeks, tension has been running high in al-Sawiya village as the Israeli settlers and soldiers stepped up assaults on Palestinian olive pickers.
Speaking with PIC, activist Wael Fakih said the Israeli forces detained a number of foreign activists as they showed up on Palestinian olive grooms in al-Sawiya, south of Nablus, and seized their passports.
The Israeli forces said they will hand over the passports back to the activists only if they leave the area, which the activists refused.
Over recent weeks, tension has been running high in al-Sawiya village as the Israeli settlers and soldiers stepped up assaults on Palestinian olive pickers.
In yet another attack, one of the numerous invasions and violations, a group of extremist Israeli colonists invaded, Sunday, Palestinian olive orchards owned by villagers of Jeet, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and harvested dozens of trees, stole the produce, and sprayed many trees with toxins.
The Israeli assailants, who came from the illegal Kidumim colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, also cut many trees.
Lawyer Omar Yameen, an owner of an orchard in the area, said he was shocked to see the destruction caused by the colonists to his land, especially since the attackers illegally harvested his trees, and then sprayed them with chemicals.
He added that one of the colonists, who illegally lives in an RV near his land, has also flooded the orchard with sewage water.
Yameen stated that these violations aim at the destroying the only source of livelihood to dozens of families, to force them out and illegally annex their lands.
The orchards are isolated behind the Annexation Wall, and the Israeli authorities only granted the Palestinians four days to pick their olive trees, which is not enough to harvest them.
The villagers in Jeet own more than 500 dunams of lands that became isolated behind the wall, but Israel only allowed them into their orchards during the olive harvest season, under very strict conditions, while the colonists have an easy, unrestricted access.
The Israeli assailants, who came from the illegal Kidumim colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, also cut many trees.
Lawyer Omar Yameen, an owner of an orchard in the area, said he was shocked to see the destruction caused by the colonists to his land, especially since the attackers illegally harvested his trees, and then sprayed them with chemicals.
He added that one of the colonists, who illegally lives in an RV near his land, has also flooded the orchard with sewage water.
Yameen stated that these violations aim at the destroying the only source of livelihood to dozens of families, to force them out and illegally annex their lands.
The orchards are isolated behind the Annexation Wall, and the Israeli authorities only granted the Palestinians four days to pick their olive trees, which is not enough to harvest them.
The villagers in Jeet own more than 500 dunams of lands that became isolated behind the wall, but Israel only allowed them into their orchards during the olive harvest season, under very strict conditions, while the colonists have an easy, unrestricted access.
28 oct 2017
Israeli soldiers invaded, Saturday, Palestinian olive orchards in the Sawiya village, close to an illegal Israeli colony, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and attacked a woman and an international peace activist, harvesting olive trees.
The soldiers attacked a woman, identified as Rana al-Barq, and an international peace activist, who were volunteering to help villagers pick their olive trees in their orchards, close to Alei illegal colony.
The soldiers also attempted to detain the international activist, but the locals managed to stop them.
The soldiers attacked a woman, identified as Rana al-Barq, and an international peace activist, who were volunteering to help villagers pick their olive trees in their orchards, close to Alei illegal colony.
The soldiers also attempted to detain the international activist, but the locals managed to stop them.
Israeli colonists invaded, on Saturday at dawn, a Palestinian olive orchard, owned by a villager from ‘Awarta, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and harvested many trees before steeling the produce.
The colonists invaded a Palestinian olive orchard, located near the main entrance of Itamar colony, which was built on illegally confiscated Palestinian lands, and harvested many olive trees.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official in charge of monitoring Israeli settlement policies, said the invaded orchard is owned by Ata Darwish, from ‘Awatra, and contains 420 olive trees.
Daghlas added that the attack is part of numerous similar violations, which witnessed a serious escalation this year.
The colonists invaded a Palestinian olive orchard, located near the main entrance of Itamar colony, which was built on illegally confiscated Palestinian lands, and harvested many olive trees.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official in charge of monitoring Israeli settlement policies, said the invaded orchard is owned by Ata Darwish, from ‘Awatra, and contains 420 olive trees.
Daghlas added that the attack is part of numerous similar violations, which witnessed a serious escalation this year.
Israeli settlers attacked, on Friday, Palestinian olive pickers in the Masafer Yatta area, to the south of Hebron, occupied West Bank, said a local activist.
Anti-settlement activist, Rateb al-Jabour, told WAFA that settlers from the settlement of Ma’on, built illegally on Yatta town land, physically attacked farmers harvesting their olives in Masafer Yatta area, causing them, including a woman, cuts and bruises throughout their bodies.
Settlers regularly attack Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest season, and either steal their crops or prevent them from reaching their lands, in addition to destroying or cutting down olive trees.
Solidarity groups usually accompany farmers as they harvest in land near the settlements, to shield them from settler attacks.
The olive harvest season is considered the most important for thousands of Palestinian families in the Israeli-occupied territories, due to its contribution to the families’ income bracket.
Anti-settlement activist, Rateb al-Jabour, told WAFA that settlers from the settlement of Ma’on, built illegally on Yatta town land, physically attacked farmers harvesting their olives in Masafer Yatta area, causing them, including a woman, cuts and bruises throughout their bodies.
Settlers regularly attack Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest season, and either steal their crops or prevent them from reaching their lands, in addition to destroying or cutting down olive trees.
Solidarity groups usually accompany farmers as they harvest in land near the settlements, to shield them from settler attacks.
The olive harvest season is considered the most important for thousands of Palestinian families in the Israeli-occupied territories, due to its contribution to the families’ income bracket.
26 oct 2017
The Israeli occupation forces at daybreak Thursday demolished a Palestinian house in Kirbet Yanoun, south of Nablus, at the same time as Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive pickers.
According to Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors Israeli activities in the north of the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army has been holding military training in the area over the past few days and during this time has demolished the house that belonged to Udwan Bani Jaber.
It was not immediately known how the house was demolished, added Daghlas, stressing that the owner has never received demolition order against it.
Daghlas said Bani Jaber was forced to abandon his 100-square meter house in 2013 following repeated attacks against him and his family by Israeli settlers in the area.
At the same time, Israeli settlers attacked three Palestinian families while picking olives in Nablus’s eastern town of Deir al-Hatab town, near Elon Moreh illegal settlement.
According to Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors Israeli activities in the north of the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army has been holding military training in the area over the past few days and during this time has demolished the house that belonged to Udwan Bani Jaber.
It was not immediately known how the house was demolished, added Daghlas, stressing that the owner has never received demolition order against it.
Daghlas said Bani Jaber was forced to abandon his 100-square meter house in 2013 following repeated attacks against him and his family by Israeli settlers in the area.
At the same time, Israeli settlers attacked three Palestinian families while picking olives in Nablus’s eastern town of Deir al-Hatab town, near Elon Moreh illegal settlement.
25 oct 2017
Palestinian farmers in Deir al-Hatab town, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, reported on Wednesday that Elon More settlement near the city flooded dozens of their olive trees with sewage water on Tuesday evening.
As a result, large areas of their agricultural lands were spoiled.
Zakaria al-Siddeh, official of field operations at Rabbis for Human Rights organization said that the Palestinian farmers discovered, in the morning, the tremendous damage when they visited their lands in order to pick the olives.
As a result, large areas of their agricultural lands were spoiled.
Zakaria al-Siddeh, official of field operations at Rabbis for Human Rights organization said that the Palestinian farmers discovered, in the morning, the tremendous damage when they visited their lands in order to pick the olives.
24 oct 2017
Israeli colonists flooded, Tuesday, dozens of Palestinian olive trees with sewage water, in Deir al-Hatab town, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Coordinator of the Israeli Rabbis for Human Rights organization in the occupied West Bank, Zakaria al-Sidda, said the colonists flooded the olive orchards near Elon Moreh illegal colony.
He added that the Palestinian owners of the olive orchards have been isolated from them, and are only allowed to reach them twice a year through special permits and coordination.
The coordinator also stated that the colonists already picked many olive trees in the area, and stole the produce, especially since they have unrestricted access to the orchards.
Although attacks carried out by extremist colonists are frequent, including uprooting and burning Palestinian lands and flooding them with wastewater, they witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season.
Coordinator of the Israeli Rabbis for Human Rights organization in the occupied West Bank, Zakaria al-Sidda, said the colonists flooded the olive orchards near Elon Moreh illegal colony.
He added that the Palestinian owners of the olive orchards have been isolated from them, and are only allowed to reach them twice a year through special permits and coordination.
The coordinator also stated that the colonists already picked many olive trees in the area, and stole the produce, especially since they have unrestricted access to the orchards.
Although attacks carried out by extremist colonists are frequent, including uprooting and burning Palestinian lands and flooding them with wastewater, they witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season.
The Israeli government has issued orders expropriating Palestinian land near the illegal settlement of Halamish, northwest of Ramallah, a local activist said on Monday.
Mohammad Tamimi, from the anti-settlements committee, told WAFA that farmers from the village of Nabi Saleh were surprised to find out when they went to their lands to harvest olives that the army would not let them enter it, and ordered them to go back.
He said that the soldiers passed on notices to the farmers informing them that their land will be confiscated “for security reasons,” the excuse Israel always uses to justify illegal acts.
Tamimi says the land seizure is clearly intended to expand the settlement of Halamish, which has been growing in area at the expense of area Palestinian villages ever since three Israeli settlers were killed in that settlement by a Palestinian attacker few months ago.
He said the anti-settlements committee is going to contest this order.
Mohammad Tamimi, from the anti-settlements committee, told WAFA that farmers from the village of Nabi Saleh were surprised to find out when they went to their lands to harvest olives that the army would not let them enter it, and ordered them to go back.
He said that the soldiers passed on notices to the farmers informing them that their land will be confiscated “for security reasons,” the excuse Israel always uses to justify illegal acts.
Tamimi says the land seizure is clearly intended to expand the settlement of Halamish, which has been growing in area at the expense of area Palestinian villages ever since three Israeli settlers were killed in that settlement by a Palestinian attacker few months ago.
He said the anti-settlements committee is going to contest this order.
22 oct 2017
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday evening kidnapped a Palestinian farmer and his son from their olive grove in Qalqilya’s eastern town of Azzoun.
A PIC news correspondent said Israeli soldiers stormed Palestinian olive groves in Azzoun and kidnapped the Palestinian landowner Mohamed Shebita and his 12-year-old son, Hamza, while they were picking olives.
The Israeli occupation army has stepped up crackdowns against Palestinian farmers during the olive-picking season in an attempt to force them out of their lands and ease harvest-theft by Israeli settlers residing in illegal settlement outposts across the occupied Palestinian territories.
A PIC news correspondent said Israeli soldiers stormed Palestinian olive groves in Azzoun and kidnapped the Palestinian landowner Mohamed Shebita and his 12-year-old son, Hamza, while they were picking olives.
The Israeli occupation army has stepped up crackdowns against Palestinian farmers during the olive-picking season in an attempt to force them out of their lands and ease harvest-theft by Israeli settlers residing in illegal settlement outposts across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Several Israeli colonists invaded, on Sunday at dawn, Palestinian olive orchards, in al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah, and Burin village, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, before harvesting the trees and stealing the procedure.
The colonists, from Adi Ad illegal colony, invaded Palestinian orchards in the al-Mughayyir village, and harvested more than 200 olive trees, before fleeing the area with the stolen produce.
A similar attack took place in Palestinian orchards in Burin town, when the invading colonists harvested sixty olive trees and stole the produce.
Such attacks witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season, in addition to the numerous invasions and attacks targeting Palestinian farmlands throughout the year.
These attacks include burning the lands, uprooting them, flooding them with waste-water and chemicals, in addition to fencing them to expand the illegal colonies and outposts.
The colonists, from Adi Ad illegal colony, invaded Palestinian orchards in the al-Mughayyir village, and harvested more than 200 olive trees, before fleeing the area with the stolen produce.
A similar attack took place in Palestinian orchards in Burin town, when the invading colonists harvested sixty olive trees and stole the produce.
Such attacks witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season, in addition to the numerous invasions and attacks targeting Palestinian farmlands throughout the year.
These attacks include burning the lands, uprooting them, flooding them with waste-water and chemicals, in addition to fencing them to expand the illegal colonies and outposts.
