Israel military training destroy more lands in Palestinian Jordan Valley (Al-Ghoor)

• Violation: destroying 26 dunums of lands
• Location:  Al-Ras Al-Ahmar and Sahel Al-Biqi'a areas
• Date:  January 27, 2016
• Perpetrators: Israeli Occupation Forces
• Victims:  three agricultural families

Details:

 Military trainings conducted by the Israeli army in the northern area of Al-Ghoor is considered a major problem facing Palestinian farmers and the agricultural sectors as well. What happens today of crimes and daily violations by the occupation makes the situation disastrous. 

According to the field research of Land Research Center,  the military trainings of the Israeli army resulted in the destruction of 26 dunums of winter crops.

Photos 1-2: the area of Sahel Al-Biqi'a with signs Israeli tanks' traces

It is reported that the occupation intentionally destroyed the winter crops by driving tanks over them, knowing that those crops were to be marketed soon. The following table shows information about damages resulted due to the trainings:

Source : Field observation- Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2016

The responsible of Al-Ghoor file, Mutaz Bsharat, told a researcher from Land Research Center that the military trainings are conducted in synchronization with sheep reproduction season and winter and summer crops. This is to say that the occupation aims at causing huge damage and losses to strike the Palestinian presence in the area.

It should be marked that the Israeli occupation authorities declared in 1967 the area of Jordan Valley (720,000 dunums) as the eastern borders of Israel.

Also, the occupation took over more than 400,000 dunums from Al-Ghoor lands and declared them military zone inaccessible for Palestinians. Any agricultural or residential activity in such area is banned. Not only, the occupation established 97 military zones and planted vast areas of dunums with landmines, imposing imminent threat on residents' lives.

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC