Preventing Palestinian Farmers from Reaching their Lands in Beit Ummar – Hebron Governorate

Violation: preventing 20 Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands; claiming that it is the property of Beit Ein colony ‘Chief’.

Date: June 8, 2011.

Perpetrators: the Israeli Occupation Army and Beit Ein colonists.

Victims: Beit Ummar residents.

 

On June 8, 2011, the Israeli Occupation Army prohibited Palestinian farmers from working in their lands and drove them out. Ali ‘Awad stated that Israeli troops broke into Ein al Beida and Wadi al Reesh and forced farmers, who were gathering peach and grape leaves, to leave.He added that the Israelis detained 20 people; among them were children and women, for a long period of time till a high rank officer showed up and released them.

 

The Officer informed the locals that the land is ‘the property of Beit Ein colony Chief’ and that they are not allowed to be there. The Palestinian owners rejected the statement while assuring that they own the land. It must be noted that Ein Al Beida and Wadi al Reesh have been facing day-to-day aggressions by colonists residing in Beit Ein colony who uproot trees, attck farmers, and try to force them out in order to capture the lands.