Yizhar colonists set fire to 30 olive trees in Burin village

• Violation: torching aging olive trees
• Location: Burin village- Nablus city
• Date: September 20, 2016
• Perpetrator: Yizhar colonists
• Victims: heirs of Abdelqadir Imran

Details:

At late hours of September 20, 2016, a group of fanatic colonist from Yizhar colony raided the southern part of Burin village; more specifically the area known as Khallet Siwar and set fire to a number of olive trees aging 35 years, leaving them partially damaged.

It should be marked that a number of Burin farmers, in cooperation with Palestinian Civil Defense, rushed to extinguish the fire but were delayed by the Israeli occupation forces present in the area. This caused the fire to last more than 25 minutes and reach vast area, leaving massive damage.

It is reported that the trees belong to the heirs of late Abdelqadir Imran. Noteworthy, the plot of Imran was targeted by the same group of fanatic colonists seven years ago.

For the record, Yizhar colonists originally started as armed military militias with support from the Israeli occupation; they were placed in the area to harass Palestinian and take over lands to expand their colonies on.

Photos 1-3: the torched lands of Burin village

It should be marked that 80% of Burin's agricultural lands are located nearby Bracha and Yizhar colonies. This made the area a colonial interest of takeover and seizure. Not only, such areas are declared inaccessible for Palestinians but through special military permits.

Over the past nine years, many violations and colonial attacks were documented in the Palestinian villages of Asira Al-Qabalia, Madama and Burin. Attacks were represent shooting bullets at farmers, attacking their houses, tees and agricultural tools and cutting down olive trees.  It is reported that more than 14 houses that are located nearby Yizhar colony witness daily attacks since three years ago.

About Burin¹:

It is located 8km to the south of Nablus city and is of 10,416 dunums in area, of which 335 dunums are the village’s built-up area. Burin has a total population of 3500 people. Two Israeli colonies are founded on the lands of Burin which are:

• Bracha: it confiscated 205 dunums  from  Burin’s lands
• Yizhar: it confiscated 150 dunums from Burin’s lands

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC