Violation: serving a military order to evict 16 dunums cultivated of olives.
Location: Ibziq hamlet / Tubas governorate.
Date: October 23 -2018.
Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation Antiquities authority.
Victims: Farmer Mohammad Sawafta.
Description:
The officer of the Antiquities authority served military order (200072) to Farmer Mohammad Sawafta (53) .
The order informs Sawafta that the Israeli occupation will take over 16 dunums of his land under claims that it is a historical site.
The targeted land is cultivated of 280 olive trees (aging 6 years old). Noteworthy, The occupation gave Sawafta 14 days to evict the land.
Affected farmer told LRC observer:
“I have a Tapu proves that I own this plot, and I have been working in it since 20 years cultivating it with different crops, it is a sub-source of income for my family. 4 years ago, I decided to plant 280 olive trees and I have been taking care of them, but I was shocked when I received an eviction military order. During the many years I was working in my land, I have never seen any antiquities, nor did nearby farmers”
 |
 |
Photos 1-2: The targeted land
The attachment of the military order
Field observation shows that lately a number of military orders were issued under claims of protecting antiquities. In fact, the real issue is not about protecting antiquities and historical sites than it is about evicting the lands for colonial expansion.
Human Rights activist Aref Daraghmeh told LRC observer:
“In the recent 5 years the Israeli occupation issued military orders that evicted vast areas of Palestinian agricultural lands using claims like “Closed military zones” and “Conducting military trainings”, now they use “Protecting antiquities” as a pretext to steal more lands”
About Ibziq:[1]
Khirbet Ibziq is 8 km east of Tubas and is a targeted Bedouin gathering, just like the Khirbets of Samra, Ainon and Hamsa. Its inhabitants depend on sheep grazing and agriculture as sources of living and on wood and sackcloth for building their dwellings. They lack basic daily services like water and electricity. They can get water by carrying jars of water from Tubas to Ibziq; a journey of 8 km.
38 Bedouin families live in Ibziq; that is 256 people. 16 out of the 38 families live permanently in the area while others are nomads- according to the head of Ibziq community. Ibziq was named after Bazqin, a religious figure buried in the place.
The area of Ibziq is 8,000 dunums- 5,000 of which are considered Jordanian crown land Bedouins are not allowed to take advantage of because of Israeli continuous attacks, the latest of which were the eviction orders. The lands are considered closed military zone and lands for military practice.
[1] GIS-LRC
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
