The Israeli occupation troops uprooted 155 olive saplings in Barta’a Ash-Sharqiya/ Jenin governorate

• Violation: uprooting olive saplings.
• Location: Barta’a village / south west Jenin governorate.
• Date: 25/02/2019.
• Perpetrator: the Israeli occupation government properties department.
• Victims: Ibrahim Amarneh’s family.

Description:

In the early morning hours of February 25, a huge army force raided Barta’a  village , and carried on uprooting 155 olive saplings (aging 3 years old) in a plot privately owned by a Palestinian farmers and located in natural block (2) of Khaleet Az-Zebdeh.

Reportedly, the targeted land has an area of 24 dunums. The occupation claims that the plot belongs to the Hashemite kingdom treasury. Thus, it is now an Israeli government property, (as it is claimed).

Owner Ibrahim Amarneh told LRC reporter:

“I inherited this plot from my father. For many years now, we cultivate the land with wheat and tobacco every season, 3 years ago we decided to cultivate olive trees on the family’s farm. Soon after, we were shocked by a military order from the occupation ordering us to evict the land, we filed a plea, but the occupations court refused it and the occupation troops showed up and uprooted our saplings on Monday.

The land was providing a sub-side source of income for my family (7 members, 2 children).

Photos 1-5 : The targeted plot

Barta’a municipality head Ahmad Qabha told LRC reporter:

“The occupation confiscated wide areas of Barta’a and surrounding Palestinian villages under claims that they belong to the Hashemite kingdom treasury. There, the occupation has found just another excuse to oppress Palestinian farmers and lay hands on Palestinian agricultural land.

On the other hands, the lands are used to expand Israeli illegal settlements like “Shaked” and “Hananit” and develop their infrastructure”