Violation: Confiscation of 2500 m of water pipes.

Location: Aj-Jiftlik / Jericho governorate.

Date: 01/07/2019.

Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation civil administration.

Victims: Farmers Nael Bane Odeh.

Description:

The Israeli occupation forces accompanied by an officer from the water department in the civil administration raided Aj-Jiftlik and reached a vineyard (37 dunums) belongs to Nael Bani Oudeh , the fanatic troops sabotaged 2500 m of irrigation pipes and confiscated them.

The occupation imposed a fine of 18,000 NIS in case he wanted the pipes back , after they claimed that farmer Bani Oudeh had illegally pumped water   from the Israeli National Water Company “Mekorot”.

Nael Bani Oudeh told LRC reporter:

“I planted my yard with grapes since 2002, after I got a water line provided from Jawad cistern, which is owned by Riyad Al-Masri, the deal between me and Al-Masri was to get 60 m³ of irrigation water daily for a certain percentage of the farm’s profits.

The farm provides a Job opportunity for me and other 5 people.

In early may, the occupation forces raided the location and handed a notice requesting me to go to the Israeli police station in Jericho, the occupation accused me of stealing water from the Israeli Water Company “Mekorot” and imposed a 10,000 NIS fine on me as a punishment , and in the 1^st of July the occupation forces showed up and confiscated the water pipes that I used in irrigation , now I will be forced to buy new pipes to save my crops.” 

Noteworthy , in May the occupation forces raided Aj-Jiftlik and Furush Beit Dajan north Jericho , and confiscated number of water pipes that transmitted water to irrigate thousands of dunums.

Aj-Jiftlik is going through a water crisis due to the Israeli policies of stealing water resources , even though they float over a river of underground water , and while Israel is enjoying plentiful of water after confiscating Palestinian natural resources, Palestinian farmers have to buy water in high prices which caused great damages to the agricultural sector.

About al- Jiftlik:[1]

It is located 35km to the northern part of Jericho city and is edged by the village of Beit Dajan from the northwest and Massua colony from the west. The village has a population of 3100 people until 2017 and has a total land area of 185031 dunums of which 1110 dunums are built-up area. Noteworthy, the occupation expropriated around 12040 dunums from the village as follows:

• 3207 dunums were confiscated for the favor of establishing colonies in the nearby.

• 3328 dunums were confiscated for the bypass roads no. (90, 505, and 508).

• 5505 dunums were confiscated for the favor of military camps

[1] GIS-LRC