Violation: Chopping down and damaging olive saplings
Location: Ar Rafid- Sinjil- Ramallah governorate
Date: 09/02/20104
Perpetrators: Colonists of Shilo
Victims: Farmers in Sinjil
Details:
After less than 10 days of the attack that damaged 600 olive seedlings in Ar Rafid, colonists of Shilo renewed their attacks, destroying 400 olive saplings this time.
Since the beginning of the new year, more than 1750 almond and olive seedlings were uprooted and stolen. These seedlings were donated by the International Red Cross Organization in a bid to protect the Palestinian lands in Sinjil from the colonists' greed and violence. It should be remarked that the targeted area (Ar Rafid) this month and last one is only 1.5 km away from Shilo colony. Colonists are trying to seize it for colonial expansion.
Photos 1-3: the targeted area
Sinjil:
20 kilometer north of Ramallah, Sinjil is surrounded by Al Labn Ash Sharqia (north), Jaljilia (west), Qaryut and Turmus'ayya (east), and Al Mazr'a Ash sharqia (south). Sinjil has a total population of 5236 people according to statistics conducted in 2007. It has a total area of 14028, 888 of which are a built-up area of the village. The Israeli occupation devoured 551 dunums of the lands of the village for two colonies. The first one is Maale Levona which was built in 1983 and confiscated 298 dunums of the village. It is inhabited by 497 colonists. The second is Eli which was built in 1984 and devoured 253 dunums. It is inhabited by 2058 colonists.
Moreover, bypass number '60 took over 246 dunums of the village lands.
According to Oslo Accords, 14% of Sinjil is under Area A (PA has full civil and security control) while 30% is under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security). However, most of the village lands (56%) is under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control). Here are the area in dunums:
- Area A (1980) dunums
- Area B (4140) dunums
- Area C (7908) dunums
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
