- Violation: leveling and fencing of lands.
- Date of violation: November 2020.
- Location: Zanuta Village – Al-Dhahriya / Hebron Governorate.
- Perpetrators: Israeli colonists.
- Affected party: the Jabarin family.
Violation details:
The Israeli settlers continue to bulldoze the seized lands of the citizens in the village of Zanuta, south of the town of Dhahriya, in the Hebron governorate, without knowing what these actions are intended for.
In September 2020, the people of the village observed that bulldozers belonging to the settlers paved a road to the west of the colonial outpost, “Metarim”, without prior notices, and when they went to the site they noticed the presence of a number of settlers accompanied by two bulldozers and guarded by the occupation soldiers.
The landowners of the Jabarin family protested against the colonialists ’assault on their lands, and they got answers that the settlers intend to build a wastewater pipeline to the purification plant located to the south of the colonial outpost. The landowners were able to stop the settlers from working on their lands and the bulldozers left the site.
But in the beginning of November 2020, the settlers returned to the site, accompanied by surveyors, then the settlers brought in a bulldozer and a digger and carried out sweeping works in the target plot, then, they brought wood to the site and began making foundations to build a wall around the plot. A metal gate leading to the target piece of land was, also, erected.
Photos 1 + 2: lands taken by colonialists
After the citizens had tried to re-object the settlers’ aggression on their lands, the settlers and the occupation soldiers who came to the site told them that these lands have been declared “state lands” since 1982, claiming that the citizens have no right to object the ongoing works on their lands.
The targeted plot is located to the west of the colonial outpost, “Mitarim,” its total area is estimated at about (10 dunums), and is one of the pastures frequented by the cattle herders from the village.
It should be noted that in the year 2015, the settlers seized a slope of a mountain to the south of “Mitarim” and installed solar panels on it to generate electric power, for more (click here). But, it is clear from the new sweeping works that the aim may not be to erect solar panels as happened in the year 2015, due to the fact that the seized lands were located at bottom of the valley, and it does not face direct sunlight as the previous site.
It should, also, be noted that the “Metarim” colony which bears the name of “the Regional Settlements Council south of Hebron ) was established in the year 2000 on the confiscated lands of Palestinian citizens, to provides specific services to the settlements established on the confiscated lands of citizens south of Hebron.
Photo 3: Regional Colonial Council “Metarim”
Zanuta village:
The village is located to the south of the town of Dhahriya, and its population is about 200 people who live in tents and tin dwellings, and they work in raising livestock and cultivating lands.
It is bordered on the east by the colonial outpost “Mitarim”, on the north and west by the bypass road (60), and on the south by the annexation and expansion wall. The village has been run by a village council recognized by the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government since 2019.
The entire village is under threat of deportation, as the occupation authorities claim that it is built on an archaeological site, despite the fact that this village has been owned by the residents of the town of Dhahiriya since ancient times.
