- Violation: Digging a massive trench in citizens’ lands.
- Location: An-Nuway’ima / Jericho governorate.
- Date: July 2020.
- Perpetrator: The So called colonies’ council in the Jordan Valley.
- Victims: Arab Az-Zayed community.
Description:
Mevo’ot Yeriho colony’s council continues its seizure and isolation policies, to expand the colony on the expense of Palestinian Bedouin communities in the area . Reportedly, Mevo’ut Yeriho colonists dug a massive trench about (1000 m long * 2 m depth) south Mevo’ot Yeriho.
The Bedouin Community of Arab Az-Zayed resides the area , and in order to prevent residents of the community from accessing postures nearby the colony, they dug this massive trench.
Colonists started digging the trench in June 2020; people of Az-Zayed Bedouin community woke up to the sounds of bulldozers and machineries colonists brought to the location without any preceding notices.
Reportedly, the trench is still open in October 22nd 2020, and after contacting with Jericho municipality, it turned out that the municipality was told that the trench aims to create a “Security Siege” around the colony. On the ground, the trench isolates 150 dunums of postures , herders of the Bedouin community used to benefit from.
Photos 1-4: The trench and Arab Az-Zayed community
Noteworthy, in March 19th 2018 , the Israeli Occupation Forces and Colonists closed off the targeted area , and prohibited herders from approaching the location , noting that these lands served as postures for the Bedouin community for many years.
On the other hand , Az-Zayed Bedouin council head Sheikh Abdul Raheem Az-Zayed:
“We are suffering to stay steadfast in An-Nuway’ima , most houses received halt of work notices , and we are not allowed to develop infrastructure that helps us stay and develop , now postures of the western area were closed due to this massive trench . Continuously, it is difficult to herd , knowing that as Bedouins herding have always been our main source of income , now farmers may be forced to sell their herds due to the novel situation.”
The trench is nearby the community and imposes a great danger on people and vehicles, as they did not put any signs to warn from the trench.
Reportedly, “Mevo’ot Yeriho” was established in 1997 on lands allocated as an Israeli state property , only few hundred meters from A area . Mevo’ot Yeriho stands in the face of Palestinian natural demographic expansion , and during the recent few years , “Mevo’ot Yeriho” settlement have been imposing a great threat on lives of Palestinians in Arab Az-Zayed, they also closed access to number of postures , which directly affected life in the community , noting that people of Arab Az-Zayed depend mainly on animal husbandry for living.
Photo 5: Mevo’ot Yeriho colony
The Land Research Center
LRC
