- Violation: burning down a barrack
- Location: Burqa village – Ramallah governorate
- Date: April 20, 2017
- Perpetrators: "Sons of Hills" gangsters
- Victims: Qaher Habbas
Details:
A group of fanatic colonists relative to "Sons of Hills" gang burned down on April 20, 2017 and agricultural barrack owned by citizen Qaher Habbas in Burqa village, east Ramallah town.
The affected citizen told Land Research Center the following:
" I own a 90m2 barrack that accommodates 130 sheep, which are our main source of income. While grazing our sheep on April 18, 2017 in Al-Karma area that is adjacent to Amonah colony, a group of fanatic colonists attacked us and attempted at stealing the herd but some young men interfered and halted their attempt"
He also said: " At dawn of April 20, 2017, same group of colonists, who live in the allegedly evicted colonial area of Migron, sneaked into the village and set fire to the barrack I own, which is only 150 meters away from villagers' houses. I received a call from neighbors informing me of the fire; with help of them, we managed to extinguish the fire and save the sheep".
Photo 1: the burnt down barrack of Habbas family
Migron outpost:
It should be noted that the occupation government ordered Migron outpost evicted in 2012 following a decision made by Israel Supreme court in late 2011. Colonists of the outpost were given 6 months to evict.
Even after the eviction , Israeli Occupation Forces kept firm control and ban of access on the area. Palestinian farmers are not allowed to enter the area or even using it agriculturally.
Migron is an outpost established on a hilltop located 7 Km east of Ramallah city in the West Bank, 2.5Km north-east of the settlement Kokhav Ya'akov.
About Burqa:
It is located 17km to the northwest of Nablus city and is linked to it through the 3.5km Nablus-Jenin road. The village is 450m above sea level and has a total area of 18,500 dunums, of which 480 are considered the built-up are. Administratively, the village follows Nablus Municipality and is run by a village council.
Burqa is edged by Yasid and Beit Imrin villages from the east, Sabastiya from the south, Bizzariya and Ramin from the west and Atara from the north.
According to the census of 2007, Burqa populates 4300 residents.
The village witnessed the establishment of Homesh colony on confiscated lands in 1980. The colony was evacuated in 2004 but 4000 dunums are still considered as "closed military zone" by the occupation.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
