The Israeli Occupation Authorities Ravage Vast areas of Mas-ha land/ Salfit Governorate

• Violation: Settlement Expansion.
• Location: Mas-ha village lands / Salfit Governorate.
• Date: May 2^nd 2021.
• Perpetrators: illegal settlers of Elkana.
• Victims: Number of farmers at the village.

Description:

Sunday, May 2^nd 2021, the Israeli Occupation Authorities ravaged vast areas of farmlands in Mas-ha village west Salfit to expand Elkana settlement, precisely the eastern part of the settlement known as “Elkana B” in order to establish new settlement units at the area.

The ravages included vast areas of lands belong to heirs of Ibrahim ‘Amer and ‘Omar ‘Amer in Wadi Ash-Shami , in addition to a plot in Abu Zraiq area that belongs to citizens Ramadan ‘Amer and Sabah ‘Amer. At this point 90 dunums were ravaged and leveled.

Photos 1-5: Ravages in Elkana B settlement 

Mas-ha village council head Nidal ‘Amer told LRC:

“The Israeli Occupation bulldozers ravage residential units in “Elkana” , and “Etz Efrayim” . on the ground, the targeted lands are isolated behind the annexation and expansion wall”.

‘Amer asserted: “There is a settlements’ council resolution that targets the area, and aims to build a massive colonial cluster which will include: Sha’arie Tekva , Oranit , Etz Efrayim and Elkana , annexing these four settlements will devour vast areas of lands in between the settlements.” 

One of the landowners ‘Ali ‘Amer testified:

“Since 2001, we’ve been struggling to access our lands, the long wall contains only one gate opened only at certain seasons, and farmers get limited permits, which is not sufficient to serve the olive trees, but we insist on staying steadfast on our plot despite the occupation’s hinders.”

About Mas-ha:[1]

17 km away from Salfit governorate, Mas-ha populates 2003 inhabitants on a total land area of 7870 dunums, of which 600 dunums are the village’s built-up area. The occupation confiscated massive area from the village for the favor of the apartheid wall and settlements.

The wall is reported to be of 8.9km in length and 100m in width. As per its construction, the wall confiscated 890 dunums of Mas-ha lands and isolated 4235 other dunums from the area. The following settlements are founded on the lands of the village:

(Source: Geographical Information System GIS – LRC)

[1] GIS-LRC