Violation: Destroying trees and threatening to destroy hundreds of others along bypass road no. 60
Location: The southern countryside of Nablus
Perpetrators: The Israeli occupation army
Victim(s): People of Madama, Asira al Qibliya and Till, south of Nablus
Date: May 01, 2014
Details:
The Israeli aggressions have been increasing rapidly since the beginning of 2014; this time, an attack took place in Madama, to the south of Nablus where the Israeli occupation soldiers raided the area on Thursday, May 01, and embarked on sawing and eventually destroying 52 almond trees using electric saws, axes and sharp tools. The trees are located along bypass road no. 60 that passes through Madama.
It is worth mentioning that all the targeted trees, estimated to be 25 years old, were rendered fully damaged. The trees belong to heirs of Abdul Rahim Nassar (owning 17 trees), Jad Allah Nassar (11), Hussein Qit (9), and Hasan Ziyada (15).
The Israeli occupation justified the assault by claiming it was carried out for 'security reasons' as the trees are aligned along the colonist-only bypass road leading to Yitzhar colony.
Pictures 1-3: Scenes of the destroyed almond trees
Orders to uproot and destroy more than 1000 almond and olive trees:
At the beginning of May 2014, the so called Israeli Civil Administration issued military orders to uproot more than 1000 trees planted along bypass road no. 60 and delivered them via the Palestinian Civilian Coordination Office . The 9km long road crosses over Huwara, Burin, Asira al Qibliya, Madama, and Till, south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
Pictures 5-7: The military orders attached with explanatory maps
The Israeli occupation justified these arbitrary orders using the well-consumed pretext of 'security reasons' considering the proximity of the trees to the colonial road.
From its side, the Madama village council refused to buy into the Israeli claim. The head of the council told an LRC observer that: "The last resolution is only complementary to a plan whose implementation began last month when the occupation issued a confiscation order on 4 dunums of agricultural land belonging to 3 families from Madama and adjacent to road no. 60 for founding a military point according to the military order. And now with the occupation deciding to uproot the trees that are near the same street! It rings a bell of danger."
It must be pointed that Madama has been one of the most popular targets for Yitzhar colonists operating in a systematic approach under the protection, probably supervision, of the Israeli Occupation Army. People of Madama, about 2000 in number, are subject to attacks on a daily basis. So is their property.
- Madama[i]:
It is 12km southeast of Nablus and is surrounded by Iraq Burin and Till (north), Asira al Qibliya (west), Burin (east), and Urif (south). According to 2014 population projections , Madama is inhabited by 2262 people. It has a total area of 3824 dunums, 190 of which are built-up area of the village.
The Israeli occupation confiscated 118 dunums for Yitzhar colony which was built on Madama lands in 1983. The colony is inhabited by 400 colonists.
According to Oslo Accords, 2509 dunums of Madama land are under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security) while 1314 under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control).
[i] Source: Geographic Information System- Monitoring Israeli Violations Team- Land Research Center
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
