Sha’b al Butum - the Civil Administration confiscated tractors in spite of previous agreements

At the Meitar border crossing, the parking lots are full.

Update from Abu Safi: the settlers are becoming more daring, approaching the house, and cursing his wife.

It should be noted that today, Abu Safi, a sick man, can no longer protect his family. Only women remained at home (the son works outside the home) and the situation could be dangerous for them.

From time to time there are volunteers who come and even sleep there with him. But it is not enough.

At-Tuwani: At the posts at the entrance to the village, soldiers stand on each side, with weapons aimed at those entering the village!

We spoke to Nasser, who said that the army had closed all the dirt roads with cement barriers.

They dug a huge pit at the entrances, from the Meitar crossing to the Zif Junction, thus eliminating roads which enabled Palestinians to reach their fields and the large cities in the area with greater ease.

Only two free entrances remained: the road in front of At-Tuwani, and from the direction of Umm al-Kheir.

The soldiers stationed at the At-Tuwani entrance, stop vehicles, in the morning and in the evening, on their way to work and back. The people have to get out and be checked.

About a week ago, the army closed off entire areas, near the village of Hashem al-Darraj, on the grounds that it was a fire area due to a large military exercise. In preparation they stick small warning notes in all sorts of places.

Sha’b al Butum (between the outposts Avigail and Mitzpe Yair): There had been an agreement and coordination with the Civil Administration, that  the Palestinians  would come with a tractor to plough. It took a few months and a truck brought the tractor to the field. When they started to cultivate the area, settlers arrived from Mitzpe Yair, pressured the administration, brought a map and claimed that the area was a closed area. The result: the Civil Administration confiscated the tractor.

The same thing happened in Susiya, and a tractor was also confiscated.

The army also confiscates vehicles that enter fire areas. The Palestinians enter because these are their living spaces. They have no choice. There are no left areas to cultivate, or pastures, and they are afraid that their camels and sheep will be confiscated as well. Car release costs NIS 3,000, and a commitment that they will not enter the closed area.

This is a dead-end situation. They are in constant fear of confiscations. A bright spot: the Italian volunteers have returned to the village. We will visit them next time.

And finally, in the coming days, the territories will be closed, no one goes out and no one comes in, due to the Jewish holidays

A bright spot: the Italian volunteers have returned to the village. We will visit them next time.

And finally, in the coming days, the territories will be closed, no one goes out and no one comes in, due to the Jewish holidays!

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