RAMALLAH, August 13, 2026 (WAFA) — Israeli colonists on Thursday dismantled a metal fence surrounding agricultural land and stole construction materials in the village of Al-Taybeh, northeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.
Suleiman Khoury, mayor of Al-Taybeh, said a group of colonists had been dismantling and stealing a wire-mesh fence surrounding an almond and olive farm covering between 20 and 30 dunams since the morning. They also stole dozens of containers of construction materials from a local concrete factory.
Khoury said Thursday's attacks also included grazing sheep on Palestinian agricultural land, which provides a source of income for many families.
He said colonist violations in Al-Taybeh had continued in recent days despite the Israeli army declaring the village a closed military zone.
According to Israeli media, the Israeli army issued a military order on Monday declaring Al-Taybeh a closed military zone and barring anyone who does not live in the village or its vicinity from entering, including colonists and foreigners.
Khoury said the municipality had learned of the decision through the media and had not received official notification. He said the order had made no difference on the ground, with attacks continuing and colonists remaining in areas around the town and inside five colonial outposts established on its land.
He questioned the purpose of the military order, asking whether it was intended to deter colonists or instead prevent activists, foreigners and journalists from entering Al-Taybeh and reporting on developments there while colonists intensified their attacks and caused further destruction.
Al-Taybeh's economy has been severely affected since October 7, 2023, particularly by colonist attacks. Khoury said residents are currently prevented from accessing 66 percent of the town's agricultural land.
"The damage is very extensive," Khoury said, adding that colonists prevent residents from accessing 16,000 of the town's 24,000 dunums of land. Most of the affected land is planted with olive trees, which provide livelihoods for hundreds of families. He added that colonist attacks have also directly damaged several facilities, including a quarry and a cement factory.
Khoury said developments on the ground indicate that Al-Taybeh is facing a displacement project with both security and economic dimensions, arguing that when residents lose security even inside their homes and can no longer provide for their families, they may begin considering leaving.
He rejected the suggestion that the village's Christian identity makes its residents a specific target, saying towns and villages east and northeast of Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate are all facing escalating attacks by colonists.
"We are equal and face the same fate. There is no difference between Christians and Muslims for them. They attack us because we are Palestinians," he said.
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