- Violation: destroying 60 olive trees
- Date: 14/10/2015
- Location: west of Az-Zawiya town- Salfit governorate
- Perpetrators: Colonists of Elkana
- Victims: farmers of the area
Details:
At the early hours of Wednesday October 14, 2015, colonists of Elkana took advantage of farmers’ inability to access their lands and the presence of the apartheid wall, which devoured 4228 dunums of the village’s lands to carry out an attack on olive trees in the area of Sirsirya that is isolated behind the wall, northwest of Az-Zawiya town.
Cutting down 60 fruitful trees:
It should be marked that the attackers cut down at least 60 fruitful olive trees aging around 35 years each. Colonists used sharp tools and partially damaged the trees. This comes in time with the olive picking season, which is impatiently waited by the Palestinian farmers.
The attacked trees belong to farmer Ahmad Qadus (32 trees) and farmer Mohamad Qadus (28 trees)
Photo 1: the targeted area behind the wall
It should be marked that the area of Sirsirya is considered a pastoral area and is famous of aging olive groves. The area is also a hotspot for colonists’ attacks, which are represented in torching, cutting down and stealing trees.
Insistence to reside on the land:
It should also be marked that farmer Mohammad Qadus (64) witnessed many violations and attacks carried out by colonists; he was even threatened of death if he keeps on taking care of his land. Noteworthy, all the attacks are being implemented for the sake of taking over Mohammad’s land for the favor of expanding Elkana colony.
The insistence of Palestinian farmers to reside on the land and never surrender is what causes failure to such colonial plans.
About Az Zawiya:
Located 17 kilometer west of Salfit and adjacent to the Green Line, Az Zawiya has a population of 4754 people according to statistics conducted in 2007. 81% of the population depends on agriculture and sheep grazing while the rest work in governmental jobs or private sector projects. Az Zawiya has a total area of 12,000 dunums, 693 of which are a built-up area of the town. Most agricultural lands in Az Zawiya are planted with olive, figs, and cactus. The Israeli occupation confiscated 1747 dunums of Az Zawiya lands for colonies and the Apartheid Wall as the following:
- Two colonies are built on Az Zawiya lands. The first is Mazor Atiqa which was built in 1986 and confiscated 573 dunums. The other is Elkana which was built in 1977 and confiscated 57 dunums. Elkana is inhabited by 3050 colonists.
- Bypass road number 5 and it devoured 520 dunums of Az Zawiya lands
- The Apartheid Wall which destroyed 579 and isolated 4228 dunums
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
