- Violation: A notice targets a water harvesting cistern.
- Location: Az-Zawiya town / west Salfit.
- Date: May 11th 2020.
- Perpetrators: The Israeli Occupation civil administration.
- Victims: citizen ‘Anan Al-Ashqar.
Description:
Monday May 11th 2020, The Israeli Occupation forces accompanied by the building and organization officer raided Az-Zawiya village heading to an area known as “Khallet Sarserya” close to the apartheid wall , the occupation forces served a second military order on a water harvesting cistern , the first one was issued in January 26th numbered (30651).
According to the new notice numbered (60983) , the occupation gave the owner only 7 days to object.
The targeted cistern belongs to ‘Anan Al-Ashqar, it has a storage capacity of 60m3 , implemented by PARC with funding from Arab fund for economic and social development , the project also included rehabilitating 10 dunums close to the cistern, to support Palestinians’ steadfastness in the area .
Az-Zawiya municipality head Mohammed Moqady told LRC:
“During the last two years, several projects that aim to support farmers’ steadfastness were Implemented , one of them included planting about 35 water harvesting cisterns , but unfortunately the occupation is now targeting them . In January 26th , the occupation demolished a cistern that belongs to Muath Misleh in Sarserya, and notified other 7 cisterns.
The area is close to the apartheid wall, where the occupation threatens to confiscate 2400 dunums near the wall and under it , they also issued an order to demolish 140 dunums to build a cemetery for illegal settlers in “Alkena” and “Etz Efrayim”.”
About Az Zawiya:[1]
Located 17 kilometer west of Salfit and adjacent to the Green Line, Az Zawiya has a population of 5230 people according to statistics conducted in 2017. 81% of the population depend on agriculture and sheep grazing while the rest work in governmental jobs or private sector projects. Az Zawiya has a total area of 12,000 dunums, 693 of which are a built-up area of the town. Most agricultural lands in Az Zawiya are planted with olive, figs, and cactus.The Israeli occupation confiscated 1747 dunums of Az Zawiya lands for colonies and the Apartheid Wall as the following:
- Two colonies are built on Az Zawiya lands. The first is Mazor Atiqa which was built in 1986 and confiscated 573 dunums. The other is Elkana which was built in 1977 and confiscated 57 dunums. Elkana is inhabited by 3050 colonists.
- Bypass road number 5 and it devoured 520 dunums of Az Zawiya lands
- The Apartheid Wall which destroyed 579 and isolated 4228 dunums
[1] Source: GIS-LRC
The Land Research Center
LRC
