The Destruction of Freedom Road and several Agricultural structures in Qarawan Bani Hassan and Deir Istya villages

December 1, 2010

Violation: the destruction of Freedom road along several agricultural structures.

Location: Qarawan Bani Hassan and Deir Istya villages – Salfit Governorate.

Date: November 24, 2010.

Perpetrators: the Israeli Occupation Army and Environmental Protection Agency.

Details:

Qarawat Bani Hassan has witnessed a new wave of the Israeli aggression on November 24, 2010.

A large force of the Israeli Occupation Army accompanied by several heavy machineries have broke into the western part of the village and held a large scale destruction campaign. The campaign targeted the freedom road and a number of agricultural projects implemented in the area.

It must be pointed that the Israelis justified their act by claiming that the structures were constructed prior to receiving the appropriate permits needed for construction in areas classified ‘C’ according to Oslo accords.

The first wave of destruction – Abu Ammar area:

The Israeli Occupation campaign held in the area resulted in the destruction of a large number of agricultural structures causing an estimated loss of around 132,000 NIS (35,000 $).

The damages were as follows:

1- Saber Mir’i: the demolition of retaining walls, a green house, water network, and uprooting trees). His loss was estimated to be around 70,000 NIS.

Picture 1-2: the remains of the green house

2- Ameen Salloum: (50-meter-long retaining walls). Estimated loss: 15,000 NIS.

3- Khader Salloum: (70-meter-long retaining walls). Estimated loss: 20,000 NIS.

4- Mohammad Rayyan: (50-meter-long retaining walls). Estimated loss: 15,000 NIS.

5- Samih ‘Assi: (40-meter-long retaining walls). Estimated loss: 12,000 NIS.

Picture 3: rubbles of retaining walls

The second wave of destruction – the Freedom road:

The opening of the freedom road was a project funded by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance. Its total length is around 1800 m and cost an estimated 350,000 $. The project consisted of opening and paving the road in addition to the placement of metal barriers on both sides and chairs for waiting. The damage inflicted by the Israelis was digging holes in the road every 20 meters in addition to the destruction of all the accessories.

Picture 4-5: Israeli dozer plowing the freedom road under the protection of Israeli troops

It must be pointed that “Al Nwetif” spring has been facing a brutl attack by the Israeli colonists of Hivat Yair and Nitafim colonies. On March 8, 2010, the colonists built a fence around the spring that is used to feed tens of dunums of farms with water.

Also, they opened an agricultural road that connects the colonies with the spring in a take over attempt. However, the villagers awareness and persistent rendered the project failure. On April 11, 2010, the Israeli Occupation Army ordered the halt of the opening of an agricultural road that connects the spring with more than 40 farms. The soldiers had also attacked the farmers and villagers who were roaming the area.

The attacks had aslso included Abu Ammar area. The Israeli Occupation Army confiscated a bulldozer that was used for land rehabilitation in the area in addition to evicting the workers working in the area.

Map 1: Qarawat Bani Hassan

The theft of agricultural equipment in Deir Istya:

On November 24, 2010, Israeli soldiers appeared in Wadi Qana area in Deir Istya. The soldiers accompanied by the Environmental Protection Agency officers confiscated more than 50 meters of irrigation pipes in addition to various agricultural equipment. The equipment were supplied by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance through Wadi Qana development project.

Picture 6: Wadi Qana – Deir Istya

Nazmi al Salman, Deir Istya Governor, stated to an LRC observer: “Wadi Qana is one of the most beautiful and most fertile areas in the West Bank, beside, it is known for the availability of water in the area. It has always been considered as one of the most convenient sites for agriculture. However, it has always been a target for the Israelis who tried seizing the area since the day they conquered the West Bank. There are seven Israeli colonies in the region, they pollute the water and the atmosphere in addition to their continuous devour of lands. Huge parts of Wadi Qana were declared Natural Reserves by the Israelis, preventing us from planting it or even use it for herding. This means the abolishment of a major source of income for the villagers.”

During the past ten months, not one month passed without attacks against the Palestinians. The attacks are held by either the Israeli Occupation Army or colonists against the Palestinian farms and farmers. The Israeli are trying any mean to drive the Palestinians out of Wadi Qana.