JENIN, October 26, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces razed land today, Monday, to construct a colonial road on privately-owned Palestinian land in the "Wadi al-Lazzam" area of Qabatiya, south of Jenin. The road is intended to connect settlements built on the lands of Arraba with others in the vicinity—including the "Noa," "Gadim," and "Ganim" settlements—passing through the towns of Marka and Misliya.
Our correspondent reported that five bulldozers began clearing the land to construct the colonial road on property belonging to Palestinian residents in the town of Arraba.
Tariq Ighbariya, the official in charge of the settlements file in the Jenin Governorate, told WAFA that these actions follow the issuance of 15 "seizure" orders by the occupation government approximately two months ago. These orders authorize the seizure of about 178 dunums of land for the construction of an 11.5-kilometer-long colonial road. The road is designed to link the "Emek Dothan" settlement—built on Arraba’s land—to the "Noa" settlement, passing through the towns of Marka, Misliya, and Qabatiya.
Ighbariya explained that the gravity of these decisions lies in the fact that about one-third of the affected land overlaps with areas classified as "Area A," which are under the full administrative and security control of the Palestinian National Authority. He noted that the occupation’s bulldozers began the actual razing today, and that, according to available data, the area of land being targeted on the ground exceeds what was specified in the military orders issued regarding this project. He added that this move comes ahead of the occupation government’s elections, within the context of settlement expansion policies through which the occupation’s leaders seek to gain votes and parliamentary seats at the expense of the Palestinian people—their blood, their land, and their rights.
Ighbariya noted that "the construction of this colonial road coincides with an escalation of military and security measures in the Jenin Governorate—specifically the installation of iron gates and the closure of checkpoints and the entrances to towns and villages. This exacerbates the suffering of the residents, restricts their movement, and disrupts all aspects of life—including education, the economy, agriculture, and healthcare—in addition to the broader security and political repercussions."
He warned that these measures are intended to isolate the towns and villages south of Jenin from the city itself, fragment the population centers, and impose further restrictions on the movement of residents and their access to their own lands and livelihoods—all in service of schemes for displacement, annexation, and control over the territory.
Ighbariya pointed out that the occupation’s bulldozers have blocked the entrances at the Al-Badia roundabout, east of Jenin, with earthen berms. This, combined with the closure of iron gates in the area, makes travel increasingly difficult for residents and severely limits the movement of vehicles between the various population centers and the city.
He emphasized that the continuation of these measures threatens agricultural land and economic interests, while deepening the suffering of the local population—all part of a policy aimed at tightening control over the governorate’s land and expanding settlements at the expense of the rightful owners of the land.
K.T
