WEST BANK, (PIC)
Extremist Jewish settlers attacked on Monday afternoon Palestinian farmers in Nablus and sabotaged property in a herding community in Jericho, while the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) continued to build a settler road in the Jordan Valley.
According to local sources, a horde of settlers grazed their sheep on a tract of pastoral land and damaged fodder crops belonging to the Arab al-Malihat community in al-Maarajat area in western Jericho.
Settlers living illegally in the area attack Arab al-Malihat villagers and their property on a daily basis, according to local officials.
In Nablus, another group of settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in the archaeological area of al-Massoudiya, northwest of the province.
Local sources reported that several settlers guarded by Israeli soldiers brutalized farmers and forced them to leave their swaths of land in al-Massoudiya plains.
The sources added that the settlers aim to take over the “Badis” hill in the west of al-Massoudiya plains, where there are Palestinian housing projects and a water reservoir belonging to the Nablus municipality.
Sebastia town mayor Mohamed Azem said that about 7,000 dunums of land are being gradually taken over by settlers in al-Massoudiya, which is part of Sebastia and Burqa lands.
Mayor Azem appealed to international organizations to intervene to stop Israel’s violations in the area, affirming that al-Massoudiya plains are considered the food basket of Nablus and contain a water basin that supplies the province with water.
15 Palestinian families live in al-Massoudiya area and they suffer from repeated settler attacks.
In the Jordan Valley, the IOA continues to build a new road for Jewish settlers in Shalal al-Auja area.
This road will increase the suffering of local residents and restrict their movement, especially their access to pastoral areas, according to local officials.
