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West Bank: For Palestinians, Colonization by Force
While the Israeli army again bombed part of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, July 6, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is also attacking, more discreetly, on another front. It recently got its hands on nearly 1,300 hectares of land in the Jordan Valley, in the occupied West Bank.
(France 2)
While the Israeli army again bombed part of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, July 6, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is also attacking, more discreetly, on another front. It recently got its hands on nearly 1,300 hectares of land in the Jordan Valley, in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinian shepherds in the West Bank are worried: the Israelis have just seized 1,270 hectares of land in their area, near their farm. This is the largest confiscation in 30 years. They are convinced that they will soon be driven off their land. “They want to push us back to the city. (…) We won’t be able to come here anymore”predicted one of them.
Since the attacks of October 7, extremist settlers have been harassing shepherds. Footage, filmed in an area 15 km away, on Saturday, June 6, shows settlers throwing stones at a Palestinian home, and setting fire to olive trees under the gaze of Israeli soldiers, who do not intervene.
The land seized by the Jewish state, which occupies the West Bank, is arid, uninhabited hills. The Palestinian mayor of the municipality of Aqraba, Sallah Abu Javer, explains that it is strategic and has a geographical interest. “Their goal is to push all the Palestinians who live next to this area, to push them towards Aqraba”he specifies.
The seizure allows Israel to connect four existing Jewish settlements in the area. These settlements are illegal under international law. Israeli authorities have not commented on the recent confiscation of 1,270 hectares. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 24 km2 have been seized.
Over the decades, these appropriations have fragmented the West Bank and prevented any continuity of the territory. While some Israelis encourage the seizures, others, like Hagit Ofran, list and denounce the colonies in the West Bank.
