In central occupied Palestine a valley called al-Mutawi is located which is known for being fertile and having various water-wells. It is located above the biggest water reserve in the region and clear water flows from there.
Yet it is disrupted by the sewage of Ariel settlement the largest Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
Palestinian farmer Jamal Bani Nimra from Salfit complains about pollution in the area which has also impacted agricultural produce and caused the migration of farmers from the area due to the flow of sewage from the nearby Ariel settlement.
Abandoned land
Nimra told the PIC reporter “Mutawi area was full of farmers and tourists (in summer) until sewage started flowing in the area and the Israeli occupation authorities established the Ariel settlement which directed its sewage and polluted water towards Mutawi area pushing Palestinian farmers to leave.”
Furthermore he pointed out “Our agriculture produce has been inflicted with diseases causing big losses to farmers one season after another. Farmers could not bear the bad smell of sewage and the scene of sewage flowing there was unpleasant to many after the area was a tourist attraction for thousands of Palestinians.”
He added “Only five farmers are currently working in the area. Diseases have spread all over the place due to sewage. Farmers who decided to stay here didn’t receive proper support and a huge damage had been caused by diseases alone.”
Nimra owns a small pool which he uses for fish farming where some 1000 fish live at present while it had begun with four fish only. He is busy now preparing for the season of the holy month of Ramadan by planting lettuce onions mint garden parsley and other produce.
Water pollution
According to Palestinian researcher Dr. Khaled Ma’ali the sewage water of the Ariel settlement gets mixed with that of Hares water well the water wells of Mutawi area and the water well of Al-Fuar of Kufr El-Deek village. It also mixes with rainwater and sneaks into the aquifer water after it leaks to the underground layers.
Speaking of Mutawi area Ma’ali said it is classified as area C according to the Oslo Accords where construction and development projects are not allowed.
The Israeli occupation authorities have worked on kicking out farmers in the area in a smart manner without firing a single bullet or issuing any military or confiscation orders by flooding sewage into the valley which extends for kilometers into the lands of Salfit Hares Burkin and Kufr El-Deek he added.
Ma’ali concluded by saying that “Mutawi area is full of beautiful and touristic attractions including natural water wells groves and herding areas big rocks and caves historical sites such as the Jalal Al-Deen site and the old Abu Basal complex as well as olive gardens and fertile lands.”
