Violation: Confiscating tents and agricultural facilities.

Location: Ein Faris – Nahalin town / Bethlehem governorate

Date: July 18^th 2019.

Perpetrator: The Israeli Occupation Civil Administration.

Victims: Families of Mahmoud Shakarna, Ibrahim Shakarna, Nu’man Ghayadha.

Description:

Thursday, July 18^th 2019, the Israeli Occupation Authorities raided Ein Faris area in Nahalin and confiscated 5 tents, on the pretext of using a plot in the custody of the occupation authorities without licenses (confiscated).

Ein Faris area is suitable for cattle breeding and posturing, which makes it a destination for Bedouins and herders, but the occupation imposed their control over most postures in the area and prohibit Palestinian herders from using them.

Jihad Fanoun from Nahalin municipality told LRC:

“The tents were set up about 50 days ago , the only thing those herders want is to put food on the table for their families , but the occupation authorities always have excuses to make Palestinians’ lives harder.”

The Palestinian town of Nahalin is bordered by Israeli illegal settlements in all sides, which puts it under confiscation sword, while settlements expansion is a violation in international conventions and agreements and humanitarian law, such as  Security council resolution 2334 for Dec 23^rd 2016 : “Condemning all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, including, inter alia, the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions”.

Ein Faris is known for its beautiful nature, but illegal settlers of Betar Illit polluted it with sewage water , which increased the soil salinity , and spread diseases among people of the area.

Photos 1-3 : the location of the targeted tents, “Bettar Illit settlement in the back”  

Nahalin:[1]

The village is located 10 km to the south west of Bethlehem and 3.5 km to the east of the armistice line of 1949. It is edged by Bitar Illit and Hadar Bitar colonies (north), al Khader (east), Wadi Fukin and the armistice line (west), and number of Israeli colonies (Rush Tzorim, Ealazr, Allon Shevut, and Ezyon) (south).

The village’s total area is 18,858 dunums including 890 dunums of built-up area, inhabited by 8741 people according to the PBS statistics of 2017. Israel has confiscated 3,583 dunums of the village lands for colonial expansion purposes, and 700 dunums for bypass roads , there are 8 settlements built on the village’s confiscated lands : (Beit ‘Ayin, Migdal Oz, Gavaot, Kfar Etzion, Efrat, Betar Illit, Rosh Zurim, Alon Shevout.”

[1] GIS-LRC

This report was created with the financial support of the EU

The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of LRC , and do not in any way reflect the positions of the European Union