Confiscating and Sabotaging Irrigation Networks in Al Baq’a – Hebron

July 15, 2011

The Israeli Occupation Army stormed Al baq’a area twice in recent weeks and destroyed and confiscated irrigation networks and pumps in addition to destroying some plants. Imad Jaber (26), stated that Israeli troops accompanied by a dozer and a truck broke into the area in July 12, 2011. They destroyed the irrigation networks and confiscated some of the equipments. He pointed out that he gets his water from the water works in a legal manner and he showed bills proving so.

Picture 1: Jaber’s water usage meter

He added that he tried to explain that he is using water legally so the Army Officer demanded showing him the bills. He ran to the Hebron Municipality to get the bills; however, the Officer paid no attention.

Picture 2-3: water bills

The Israeli Army Officer gave him a warrant stating that ‘we have reason to suspect illegal activities in regard to the used equipment’.

Picture 4: the warrant

No one knows where the suspicions arise from but the locals believe that it comes from the source of water despite proving its legality.

Table 1: Owners of irrigation networks:

No.	Owner	Age	Area	Crop
1	Imad Jaber	26	3	Tomato, squash
2	Izz ad Din al Rajabi	34	5	Tomato, cauliflower, eggplants
3	Yosuf al Rajabi	70	12	grapes

The Israeli Occupation Authorities held a similar campaign in June 27, 2011. Izz ad Din Al Rajabi, a victim of both aggressions stated that he has an official agreement with Bani Na’im Municipality to provide him with water but that did not spare his irrigation network.

Picture 5-6: Al rajabi agreement with Bani Na’im Municipality

Table 2: owners of confiscated irrigation networks confiscated on June 27, 2011:

No.	Name	Area (dunum)	plants
1	Izz ad Din al Rajabi	3.5	Eggplants
2	Subhi al Rajabi	4	Cauliflower
3	Ismael al Rajabi	4	Tomato, cauliflower
4	Mohammad Jaber	3	Squash
5	Fadi Jaber	2	squash

Huge areas are on the brink of extreme drought as a result of the Israeli measures. The objective of such aggressions is forcing hundreds of Palestinians to leave their field in order to further expand Kharsina and Qiryat Arbaa’ colonies over the targeted fields.

According to locals, they claimed that they had recently found flyers written in Hebrew calling for the capture of these lands and amend it to the nearby colonies in order to use for agricultural purposes. 7 years earlier, the colonists captured around 50 dunums of the agricultural lands in Al Baq’a; they fenced the lands and amended them to Qiryat Arbaa’.

Picture 7-8: captured lands

Furthermore, the Israeli Occupation Authorities are placing high voltage electricity polls in the heart of the agricultural lands in Al Baq’a to supply the colony with electricity.