HEBRON, Thursday, February 03, 2022 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers today uprooted 60 olive saplings and attacked livestock herders in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, according to a local activist.

Coordinator of the Protection and Steadfastness Committees in Masafer Yatta, Fouad al-Amour, told WAFA that said that settlers barged their way into the olive groves of Jalal al-‘Amoud in Khallet Ad-Dabi‘, one of the hamlets making up Masafer Yatta, and destroyed 60 olive saplings.

He added that the settlers assaulted livestock herders and attempted to force them out of pastures.

This came a day after Israeli forces razed four water wells in the same locality.

The locality has been a target of frequent attacks, including demolishing agricultural structures,   blocking roads, tightening movement restrictions and opening fire towards Palestinians protesting colonial settlement construction.

Masafer Yatta is a collection of almost 19 hamlets which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.

Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living - livestock.

It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.

Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.

In contrast, Israel much more easily gives over 700,000 Jewish Israeli settlers in colonial settlements across the West Bank building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.

K.F.