Ufra Colonists Set Palestinian Fields Ablaze in Deir Jarir- Ramallah Governorate

Violation: setting 25 dunums of Palestinian lands alight

Location: Deir Jarir; eastern part

Perpetrators: Ufra colonists

Date: September 21 and 22, 2011

 

On September 21, 2011, an armed group of colonists of Ufra colony raided Deir Jarir village on September 11, 2011. The colonists headed to an area known as ‘Al Karm al Atiq’ and set fire in the olive fields there. However, the intervention of the villagers prevented the fire from spreading.

 

On September 22, 2011, the colonists commenced a similar attack under the protection of Israeli troops; this time they managed to set more than 25 dunums of olive fields alight, the flames consumed most of the olive trees in the area. The target area is 500 meters away from the colony boundaries; and it has been unreachable for quite a long time rendering it completely deserted. The Israeli troops prevented the fire trucks from approaching the site which allowed the flames to spread even further.

 

It must be known that the area has been a target for Israeli colonists for a long time; numerous violations have been reported in the last ten years, these violations ranged from preventing farmers from accessing and using their lands, torching lands, and stealing the olive crops. All these violations occurred under the protective cover of the Israeli forces who prevented more than 3500 people from exploiting their properties.

 

It is located 13 km to the north east of Ramallah, 900 meters above sea level; it is connected the surrounding Palestinian towns and villages via a lonely main road. Its total area is 33,200 dunums, planted mostly with olives, fig, grapes, and other fruits. The village organizational plan includes 817 dunums while it is inhabited by around 5000 people. The Israeli Occupation confiscated more than 1000 dunums of the village lands in favor of Ufra colony which has been expanding and consuming more lands as time passes by.