- Violation: Stealing olive harvest.
- Location : Yasouf village / North Salfit city.
- Date: 23/09/2019.
- Perpaetrators: Settlers of “Rahalim”
- Victims: Farmers Ahmad and Rida ‘Atyani.
Description:
In the early morning hours of Monday, September 23, 2019 , farmer Rida ‘Atyani (52) headed to his plot in an area known of “Al-Mahair” northeast Salfit, where he was shocked of seeing that Israeli settlers stole the harvest of 35 olive trees. This attack is the second of this sort, preceded by a similar attack last July , when settlers cut and sabotaged 42 olive trees using sharp tools.
Such attacks against olive trees came in time with olive harvesting season which starts in October 15 , Palestinian farmers patiently wait for the harvesting season, as olives have a special role in Palestinian culture and cuisine.
Farmer ‘Atyani told LRC reporter that he filed a written complaint to the Israeli police through the Palestinian Liaison Office , but they did not do anything on the ground to actually stop such attacks.
Al’Atyani asserted: “ in the recent years we were threatened of arresting in case we approached our plot close to the settlement, in 2008 , settlers cut and sabotaged 35 olive saplings at the same location, in addition to daily harassments against us and our neighboring farmers in olive groves, but farmers remain steadfast in the face of the arbitrary occupation.”
The targeted trees provide about 300 liters of olive oil yearly , and were providing olive oil for the families of the two owners.
About Rahalim:[1]
The colony started in 1990 as a confiscated land for the favor of building a military base in Yatma. In 2000, the Israeli occupation allowed colonists to install 19 caravans in the area.
Today, and after 12 years, Rahalim colony became one of the most confiscating colonies where it took over 450 dunums from the villages of Iskaka, Yasuf and Yatma( Geographical Information System –LRC). In addition, the occupation has been planning on establishing new outposts to found the so-called grater Rahalim.
Photo 1 : “Rahalim” illegal settlement
Yasuf: [2]
It is 16km south of Nablus. Yasuf is surrounded by Huwara and Jamma’in (north), Marda (west), Yatma (east), and Iskaka (south).
Yasuf is inhabited by 2093 people (according to 2017 census). It has a total area of 6037 dunums, 330 of which are built-up area of the village.
The Israeli occupation confiscated 814 dunums for these two colonies: Kfar Tapuah colony which was built on Yasuf lands in 1978. The colony is inhabited by 523 colonists and Rachelim- Shvut that was built in 1991 and devoured 10 dunums.
Besides, the bypass road number 508 confiscated more than 155 dunums of the village lands.
According to Oslo Accords, only 1427 dunums of Yasuf lands are under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security) while most of Yasuf is under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control). About of 4609 dunums of Yasuf is in area C.
[1] GIS-LRC
[2] GIS-LRC
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