TEL AVIV, October 12, 2010 (WAFA)- Villagers of Wadi A-Rasha in the West Bank filed 98 requests to access their olive groves which are beyond the Separation Wall, but the requests were all declined.

A petition filed today by the village's council head with the assistance of the Israeli rights group Yesh Din asks the Israeli High Court to intervene, 'in order to protect the yearly livelihood of the villagers'

The Village council of Wadi A-Rasha  with the help of human rights group Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights, petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) today (Tuesday), requesting the court to issue an injunction that will allow its residents to reach their olive groves and harvest their olives.

The petition was filed after all the villagers' requests to access their groves have been declined by the Civil Administration. The refusal of the Authorities to grant these requests is causing severe damage to the livelihood of the residents of Wadi A-Rasha.

The village is one of five Palestinian villages near the Jewish settlement of Alphey Menashe. After the separation barrier was erected around the settlement, the village became an enclave. The HCJ ruled that the village should no longer be an enclave surrounded by barriers. However, the village's agricultural fields and groves, measuring up to 500 dunams, remained inside the fence.

Despite their promise to help the villagers and allow them to cultivate their fields, especially during the harvest season, all 98 requests filed recently by Wadi A-Rasha residents were declined by the Israeli Authorities. This poses a real danger to their yearly livelihood.

The petition, filed by attorneys Michael Sfard and Avisar Lev of the Yesh Din legal team, says that the Authorities' refusal to grant access to the villagers is pointless and unjustified, and undermines their right to property and livelihood. The petitioners note that by refusing to the villagers' requests, the authorities have violated their legal commitments.

'This case shows that the authorities not only fail to protect the Palestinians from right-wing Jewish extremists, but also prevent them from exercising their legal right to harvest their olives', says Attorney Michael Sfard.

'The olive harvest season is underway. The court must intervene urgently, so as to protect the livelihood of the residents of Wadi A-Rasha', adds Attorney Avisar Lev.