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Settlers? Attacks

Hebron Region

- 0n 17-18 February settlers from Qiryat Arba? attacked Palestinians in Wadi El-Nasara, south of the settlement. The residents report that a group of armed settlers, operating under the observing eyes of an army unit that was already stationed in the site, renewed their attacks by stoning Palestinians who attempted to use the main road. The settlers also stoned houses in the Wadi.

Munther Da?na reports that his houses were stoned more than once during the last two days. In addition, several Palestinian students were beaten by settlers. Mr. Da?na's daughter Aslam, 13, was hurt in her back and hands while forced to run away from the settlers who chased her - as well as tens of other students - only because they attempted to pass the main road near their houses. This kind of daily harassment and aggression by the settlers results from the fact that in their opinion Wadi El-Nasara road - which they call the "prayers road"- is for the exclusive use of Jews alone.

- On 20 February settlers from Carmel, east of Yatta, itself south of Hebron, began leveling 200 meter strip of land south of the settlement for the purpose of adding new Caravans to the place. Salem E?id, one of the owners of the land that was confiscated over the last months explains that "the work in the land is proceeding under the protection of the army. The army prevents us from reaching our property for already several months since the work started. In the recent 2 weeks the construction work has begun by the settlers in the area south of Yatta. The aim is obviously to further expand the settlement project and to confiscate more land where 4 settlements and 7 ?outposts? are already in place.

- 0n 21 February, some 40 settlers in Hebron city began a march in Beit Romano throughout the streets of the city. During the march the settlers stoned many Palestinian houses along the way, especially in the Sahla quarter. The settlers also physically assaulted many Palestinians. Is-haq Muhtaseb, 43, Arafat Gafisha 16, and Randa Fakhouri, 40, were beaten in many parts of their bodies. The settlers repeatedly shouted phrases such as "Death to the Arabs." During the march big groups of settlers gathered around the Al-Haram (Tomb of the Patriarchs) at a time when Palestinians were celebrating inside the Hijree New Year.

- On 25 February, Mohammed Naser Da?na, 14, was injured in his face and legs after a settler from Qiryat Arba? stepped on him in the Wadi El-Nasara road. Mohammed was taken in a military vehicle to Alya Hospital for treatment. This injury happened during yet another loud and wild settlers? march that began there on 6 p.m.

Bethlehem Region

On 21 February, four shepherds from the village Tuqu 10 km south-east of Bethlehem - Mohammed Mahmoud Sabbah, 24, Mohammed Ahmed el-badan, 50, Hussein Mohammed al-Badan, 25, and Mohammed Khaled el-Badan, 5 ? were shepherding their live stock near their tents. At 2 p.m. a white Mitsubishi car from the settlement Kfar Tapuah, southeast of Bethlehem, stopped near the shepherds. Five armed settlers and their dog came out of the car and started beating the shepherds. The settlers opened fire on the shepherds. When some Palestinians gathered to help the shepherds, the settlers shot bullets near the legs of the Palestinians. The four shepherds were injured and were taken to the clinic in Tuqu and later to the Beit Jala hospital.

According to the Israeli police, the settlers were arrested at the same day in Kfar Tapuah and confirmed their assaults. Tayseer Abu Mofarreh, mayor of Tuqu explains:

"east of the village the settlers from Kfar Tapuah repeatedly attack farmers who try to reach their land which is near the settlement. On February 8 the settlers took control over 5 Dunams of land and planted in it olive trees. The land is located near the main road. I went to the place to find out what is going after the farmers informed the municipality that the settlers are planting the land. I saw 15 settlers, next to ten soldiers that came to prevent some 200 Palestinians from protesting these actions. The soldiers forced the group to leave while the settlers continue their planting. It is important to emphasize that the income of hundreds of families from the villages in the area depend on their wheat plantations in this land as well on raising cattle on it. This policy of settlers' aggression and confiscation will directly harm all the families in the area."

Nablus and north of West Bank

- On 18 February, ten settlers from Yitzhar, southwest of Nablus, attacked some Palestinian shepherds from Asira al-Qibliya in a site called Beer Ma?sara. Ahmad Aseri, one of the shepherds, reports: "while I was with my goats and with other four shepherds in the land near the settlement that belongs to our families, ten settlers, some of them armed, began shooting towards us. We run away and left our goats behind." Khaled abu Khalaf, 36, adds: "I own 5 Dunams of land located 2 km away from settlement Yitzhar. I nonetheless could not work there planting because settlers attack me as well as others when we try doing so."

Land confiscation and take over

- On 27 February, Rami, the Israeli construction and planning officer of the Qalqiliya district handed some orders to 6 families from Deir Ballut village southeast of the city. The orders stated that the area called Abu Rayat, west of the village, is now a closed military zone and that the families should leave it. The officer himself is a settler from Peduel. He threatened the farmers with confiscation of their live stock if they do not obey the order.

Farmers Abed Allah Mosa Hamed, Azmi Mosa, Jaser Abed Allah , Naje Husni and Abed Wahhab Husain own some 500 goats and live in the place for years. Kamal Yousef, mayor of the village, says: "this is part of the aggression that the village faces daily. The soldiers and settlers work hand in hand side to confiscate more of our land. During the last month settlers uprooted hundreds of trees of various kinds. Recently, the army ordered the municipality to stop the work on a new school west of the village. When we told them that we have a construction permit they simply did not allow us to continue the work."

- On 25 February, the army uprooted 35 olive trees near the main entry road to the town of Idhna, 9 km west of Hebron. The trees belong to Mohammed Jaber Nofal. Two months ago in the same place the army leveled three Dunams of land that belong to the Qaise and Mahasna families. This land is located near the settlement road # 35. The army justified the uprooting by the security of settler?s cars that drive there. The farmers confirmed that actions against settlers' cars never took place in the site.

- On 23 February the army confiscated over 5 Dunams close to the west entrance of the village Al Jalama north of Jenin. A military point was later erected there.