The Israeli Occupation forces uproot 84 olive trees in Bardala village / Tubas governorate

June 24, 2020

Violation: Uprooting 84 olive trees.
Location: Bardala village – The Northern Jordan Valley / Tubas governorate.
Date: June 24^th 2020.
Perpetrator: The Israeli Occupation Civil Administration.
Victims: Four families from the village.

Description:

Bardala village have witnessed a new attack by the so called “Governmental properties officer in the civil administration”. Wednesday, June 24^th 2020 , Massive army forces accompanied by two military bulldozers raided the village and targeted three dunums of olive groves aging 7 years old, where 84 olive trees were uprooted and removed.

The targeted trees belong to:

‘Izzat Rabaya’a: 58 olive trees aging 9 years old.
Mahmoud Rabaya’a: 13 olive trees aging 12 years old.
Hazza’a Rabya’a : 7 trees aging 12 years old.
Ahmed Rabya’a: 6 trees aging 12 years old.

Photos 1-5 : Olive trees after being cut in Bardala village

Farmer ‘Izzat Rabaya’a (43) told LRC the following:

“My brothers and I inherited a 3 dunums plot , we used to cultivate them with Grains and vegetables. However, five years ago we planted the plot with olives , in January 23^rd 2020 , we received a halt of work order numbered (001375) that orders the eviction of the land and removing the trees on the pretext of using a “governmental property”, but this is our inherited land and we will hold on to it.”

Photos 6-7: an eviction notice for Bardala lands

In the recent years, the Israeli Occupation is heavily targeting the Agricultural Sector in Bardala village. In 2018 , the Occupation forces uprooted 320 trees west the village , same situation reoccurred in 2019 , when 70 trees were cut or sabotaged, and 80 were notified of removal.

About Bardala:[1]

25 km to the north of Tubas, Bardala village is surrounded by the Green Line (north), Raba (west), Ain al Baeda (east) and Tubas (south).

It has a population of 1607 people( 2017 census). Its total area is 18329 dunums, of which 404 dunums are considered built-up area.

The Israeli occupation devoured 252 dunums of its land to build bypasses road , especially road no.90. It also confiscated 819 dunums to build the Separation Wall and isolated 2100 dunums of Bardala land as a result.

According to Oslo Accords, 90% of the village is classified as area “C”, which is under Israeli authority while only 5% is area “B” that is under the control of PA.