Exclusive to Environment and Development Horizons (Afaq magazine):
As for the rest of the West Bank, the Jordan Valley region is negatively impacted by the Israeli government's massive expansion of settlements, which is led by extremist who publically announce their intentions to construct additional settlements in the West Bank and displace Palestinians in the process.
However, the Jordan Valley region has unique characteristics that make it more vulnerable to these plans, which began in the early 1970s and have persisted under all Israeli governments, whether right-wing or left-wing. The political context influenced waves of settlement development and attacks on Jordan Valley populations and lands. Settlers take advantage of big political events in Palestine, the region, or the world to implement new policies and facts on the ground. As such, Israel’s destructive war in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has created the ideal conditions for extremist settler groups, whom the Israeli government officially supports by providing protection and necessary equipment as well as not intercepting their criminal activities.
The Jordan Valley's unique characteristics, including its wide and nearly empty areas, fertile soil, and availability of water in all areas, as well as the long distances between Palestinian villages and communities, made it fertile ground for the construction of dozens of new settlements, which intensified and increased following the events of October 7th.
The Israeli government also imposed an almost complete closure on the Jordan Valley by closing the Al-Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints, which isolate the Jordan Valley from the rest of the north and central areas of the West Bank.
"Afaq" magazine sheds light on the displacement process carried out by settlers in Al-Mu’arajat area in the south, which is the only remaining area as an outlet and a road linking the city of Jericho and the rest of the Jordan Valley with other West Bank cities, via the street known historically as “Al- Mu’arajat”.
Al-Mu’arajat Street connects the cities of Ramallah, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley through the mountains and valleys of Al-Taybeh and Deir Dibwan villages. Residents from communities east of Ramallah continued to use the region as open pastures. Following the Nakba in 1948, certain Bedouin tribes began to relocate there until 1967, when the Al-Kaabna family settled there, which is divided into the Al-Omariyyin, Al-Khalayfa, Al-Thuwayin, Al-Aaraara, Dar Abu Ghuriya, Dar Abu Fazza, and Al-Malihat families.
“Afaq” correspondent met with the Mukhtar of the tribe (head of the tribe), Mr. Suleiman Mleihat, who reported an increase in attacks on the residents of the area and the primary school located in the community known as the Arab Mleihat community. Mleihat says: “The settlers’ goal in these attacks is to destroy the livestock sector in the region, through night raids with the support of the Israeli army and police as a cover for the settlers. The settlers also steal sheep and prevent residents from grazing in the surrounding areas, which are the main source of grazing for Arab Al- Mleihat. The settlers also deliberately kill the sheep -running over them with the cars- as a form of pressure and intimidation of the shepherds. They also prevent them from reaching the main street or reaching the grasslands.
Mr. Suleiman adds: “We see that the Kaabna Bedouin Elementary School is a symbol of steadfastness in the region, so there is an alliance between several settlers, known as “Zohar Al-Sabah”, aiming to close the school through continuous attacks, stealing or destroying property in the school, and intimidating students and teachers.
On the other hand, "Afaq" monitored a series of attacks over the past five months, indicating that the settlers are taking advantage of the war in the Gaza Strip and minimal presence of media in the Jordan Valley to impose new facts on the ground, control larger Palestinian areas, and prevent Palestinians from reaching most areas in the area.
On January 23, 2024, settlers dug three small graves with a rose on each, symbolizing a children's cemetery as a threat to Palestinian residents there that their children would be killed as well.
“Afaq” had previously reported on a group of settlers who assaulted the Al-Kaabneh Beddoin School and hung bloodstained dolls, as yet another threat to the school's students and personnel. Additionally, the army and settlers conducted regular raids and attacks on the school to prevent the Palestinian flag from being raised or being painted on the walls.
Meanwhile, the settlement outposts in Al-Mu’arajat area increased to four pastoral settlement outposts, in addition to the settlement of Mevoot Jericho, which the Israeli government "legalized" several years ago, transforming it from a settlement outpost to a legal settlement.
In addition to what is happening in Al- Mu’arajat area, attacks are rising on the "Wadi Al-Siq" area and schools in the center of the eastern mountain near the villages of Al-Taybeh and Ramoun. Several families were displaced from the area as a result of continued systematic attacks by a settler who established a settlement outpost near the Kaabneh family community, as well frequent attacks on the school and threats to the safety of pupils and educational staff.
Since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip, human rights advocates and activists have documented an assault by a group of settlers on activists of the “Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission.” In that incident, the settlers stripped the activists of their clothes, handcuffed them, and blindfolded them, all while being protected by the Israeli army. Among them was Muhammad Abu Hassan, the director of the Commission's Central Department Area.
As a result of an official Israeli government decision, the settlers have been engaging in what prominent Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission leader Salah Al-Khawaja called "arrogance and bullying." He says that “since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip, official orders have been issued to the settlers to expand their attacks on Palestinian citizens everywhere, and to keep them from getting to their properties or livestock grazing lands. We also observed that settlers, shielded by the Israeli army and police, were engaging in unprecedented levels of extreme violence”.
“We view this incident as a serious threat to the lives of the Commission's employees, and we hold the Israeli government, the occupation army and police fully accountable for their sponsorship of the attacks of extremist settlers on Palestinian citizens in general and against human rights defenders and legal activists in particular”, according to Al-Khawaja. He continued: “Additionally, we demand that international organizations protect Palestinian citizens living in these areas from settler attacks and the threat of forcible displacement”. Since October 7th, 13 Palestinian citizens have been murdered in the West Bank by settler attacks that included shooting directly at residents. Of these, six were from the village of Qasra, south of Nablus, and during the olive harvest season, one young man was shot dead by settlers from the village of Al-Sawiya, which is also located south of Nablus.
Al-Khawaja added to “Afaq”: “The area of land confiscated in five population centers east of Ramallah is approximately 150 km2, equivalent to three times the city plan of Tel Aviv, resulting in the displacement of its residents. Settlers also continue to threaten the activists of the Commission, including the Chairman of the Commission, Muayyad Shaaban.”
Even though the people of the Al-Mu’arajat area, and the Al-Malihat family in particular, are known for their unwavering steadfastness, this needs to be strengthened right away to prevent the uprooting of local populations and to ensure that Palestinian presence in this region in protected. Thus, there should be a concerted effort to bring attention and take action for the protection of Palestinian communities in this area of the West Bank.
Translated by: Rasha Abu Dayyeh
