As soon as one reaches Atouf Mounts in the northern Jordan Valley large tracts of Palestinian lands making a medley of green ranches appear to be engulfed by newly-constructed Israeli settlements marring the delight triggered by the original natural scenery.
Three large settlements—Beka’ot Ro’i and Rutm—have swallowed up Palestinian lands overseeing al-Baki’a foothills on Atouf Mounts.
According to Dr. Muayed Besharat the head of the Agricultural Work Committees Office in Jericho and the northern Jordan Valley al-Baki’a hill is the largest in the occupied Palestinian territories after Marj bin Amer and Sanur hills.
Located to the east of Tamoun town and stretching up to the Jordan River al-Baki’a hill has had 70% of its lands owned by Palestinian locals grabbed by the Israeli occupation authorities in favor of illegal settlement construction.
Besharat also said the Israeli occupation categorizes large tracts of the hill as Area C and prevents farmers from cultivating their lands under the guise of their proximity to Israeli military zones and drill camps.
Palestinian farmer Jamal Bani Oudeh said al-Baki’a lands represent the sole source of income for dozens of local farmers.
He sounded the alarm over the crackdowns and assaults perpetrated by Israelis residing in Beka’ot settlement under police escort.
According to data by the Palestinian National Information Center Beka’ot settlement was established in 1972 on Palestinian land in Tamoun village. At its early stages the settlement had put on a paramilitary and agricultural character before it turned into a source of agricultural theft for Israeli settlers. Large tracts of Basin 43 known as “al-Safeira land” were also annexed by the Israeli occupation authorities and settlers.
The settlement covers an overall area of 344 dunums including 229 dunums that have remained unconstructed and fenced off with barbed wire. Its estimated population until the end of 2014 is 169 settlers. The number is believed to have risen dramatically over the past couple of years.
