- Violation: Opening a colonial road and smashing the glass of several cars.
- Location: Al-Mazra’a Al-Gharbiya / northwest Ramallah.
- Date: 24-30 January 2020.
- Perpetrators: Settlers of “Horsha” settlement and the Israeli occupation forces.
- Victims: number of farmers from the village.
- Description:
In an attempt to take over “Ein Harasha” spring southwest Al-Mazra’a Al- Gharbiya in an area classified B in Oslo accords, the Israeli occupation forces opened a colonial road that links “Horsha” illegal settlement to “Ein Harasha” spring are , the road is 800 m long.
Yousif Shraiteh , member of the agricultural committee told LRC :
“in 2002, the Israeli occupation army took over about 45 dunums on a high hill in an area known of Ein Huraisha, the area was announced a closed military zone, and in 2004 the occupation forces put a military watch tower at the location , in 2006 settlers put a caravan , shortly after that, Israeli settlers announced construction of a new outpost named “Horsha” .
Horsha was linked with roads to number of surrounding settlements such as “Talmon” and “Dolev” , since the establishment of the outpost, we have been living in constant fear and struggle to protect our land, each year settlers close up the area and prohibit farmers from harvesting olives , they also destroyed the siege that surrounds the spring. Their last violation was opening a colonial road for settlers in January 24th .
Photos 1-2: the new colonial road
Photos 3-4: “Ein Harasha” spring
Photos 5-7: The Horsha outpost
Opening a new colonial road for settlers devoured several lands that belong to farmers: Abdul Hafith Shraiteh, Asa’d Shraiteh, Mohammed Salih Shraiteh, Mohammed Juma’a Shraiteh, Othman Ladawda, Mahmoud Ladawda ,Haitham Ladawda.
“Ein Harasha” area is significant for citizens , Abdulhafiz Samhan , member of the agricultural committee told LRC:
“In the recent years “Ein Harasha” was with great importance for people of the village and the surrounded villages , the area was known of its significant and strategic location, the surrounding soil was fertile and had a fascinating nature , orange and Lemon fields were covering 40 dunums around the spring , their crops were exported to all Palestinian and Jordanian markets .”
Smashing the glass of Palestinian vehicles:
In the same context, and while number of Palestinians were protesting opening a colonial road in the area , a group of settlers attacked several Palestinian vehicles parked on the road side , LRC team reported the damages:
- Smashing the front glass of an Opel Astra 2008 , that belong to citizen Mahmoud Taha.
- Smashing the front glass of a Mercedes Jeep , that belong to Tu’musa’yya municipality.
- Smashing the front and back glasses of a Skoda 2016 , that belong to citizen Anwar Al-Aqra’a.
- Smashing the back glasses of a Hyundai 2003 , that belong to citizen Waseem Ladawda.
- Smashing the front and back glasses of a Hyundai Santa Fe 2011 , that belong to citizen Rami Ladawda.
Photos 8-12: scenes from the attack on cars
About Al-Mazra’a Al-Gharbiya (Al-Qibliya):[1]
It is located 12km to the northwest of Ramallah city. The village is edged by Abu Shkeidim area from the north, Talmon colony from the west, Abu Qash village from the east, and Ein Qiniya village from the south.
The village has a total land area of 15,275 dunums, of which 1165 dunums are the built-up area. Around 5000 people inhabit the village (2014).
The Israeli occupation confiscated around 329 dunums from the village’s lands to establish the colonies of Nahliel (1984) and the colony of Talmon (1989).
Also, the bypass road number 450 confiscated 75 dunums from the village.
According to Oslo lands classifications, the village lands are as follows:
- 8533 dunums are area classified “B”
- 6742 dunums are area classified “C”
[1] GIS-LRC
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