ARMY BLOCKS AGRICULTURAL ROAD LEADING TO PALESTINIAN FARMLANDS

Hebron, 11 Jumadil Akhir 1435/11 April 2014 (MINA) – The Israeli army closed a main agricultural road that leads to thousands of Dunams of Palestinian farmlands, east of Beit Ummar town, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron. The road was blocked by a 20-centimeter high concrete wall.

The Maan News Agency has reported that the road leads to farmlands in the areas of Ereq Safy, Khallet Kammoon, and Brekot, and that the lands belong to several families, including Sleiby and Abu Ayyash.

Mohammad Awad, spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar town, stated that the wall extends from the al-Baraka hospital, on the outskirts of the al-Arroub refugee camp in the north, to the Etzion junction, according to International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) report quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA). 

It would lead to the isolation of more than 5000 Dunams; the Palestinians in that area already lost 12000 Dunams that were illegally annexed for settlement construction activities. (One Dunams is 0.247 Acres)

Awad said the villagers used to have dirt dozens of roads leading to their lands, including roads that fit agricultural tractors and equipment, way before Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967, but are now all blocked by this wall.

“These roads are all there, on maps, including Israeli maps; but Israel wanted to close them all”, he said, “Now, after the army blocked these roads, the lands in the eastern side of Beit Ummar became isolated; villagers cannot access them, therefore, the lands are now surrounded and isolated”.

The villagers voiced appeals to local and international organizations to help them, and ensure they can access their own lands, by pressuring Israel to reconsider its decision that is mean to allow the expansion of Israeli settlements by isolating and confiscating Palestinian-owned lands. (T/Nidiya/P03/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)