For the settlers of the hills in the Jordan Valley, Shabbat is a day of abuse and riots
What do the “Hill colonists” in the Palestinian Jordan Valley do on the Sabbath? Abuse Palestinians!
This is how they observe the Holy Sabbath – harass Palestinians, go wild on their ATVs, chase Palestinian shepherds away from their grazing grounds together with the Israeli army.
In the early morning hours, two activists accompanied Z.’s flock while another two took part in the corn harvest at Al Farisiya.
Five soldiers and a uniformed colonist arrived at the Al Malih grazing ground. They accused the shepherds of coming too near the army base Tebetz and stopped their grazing. The two activists stayed there for about an hour while the soldiers interrogated the shepherds, threatening and warning them, and then left.
In the afternoon, the colonist children from Maskiyot went out on their regular Sabbath walk to Ain al Hilwa. The activists tried to prevent much damage but could not prevent them from emptying the water tank in F.’s home.
At Humsa, colonists on ATVs passed several times among residents’ houses.
At Al Hadidiya, the Israeli army stopped the plowing at A.’s field. The tractors had to leave the area and their three drivers were detained and then arrested. They were probably brought to Barvaz Post near Mekhola colony, and released a few hours later.
After such an eventful day, the night was quiet except for dogs barking at every little disturbance, which forced me to keep checking that no colonists were around.
Location Description
'Ein al-Hilwe
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Ein al-Hilwe is a natural spring and a Palestinian grazing area in the Jordan Valley that was used by the Palestinian shepherd communities for watering their flocks and for daily use. As of 2021, settlers from the Maskyot settlement took control of the spring: they fenced it off, built a wading pool and a mikveh, and installed flags and recreational facilities.
Palestinians are effectively denied access to the spring, and are forced to make do with running water in a remote wadi or, when the road is blocked, buy water from vendors at high prices.
The spring is located in the heart of an area where illegal outposts are being established, as part of a broader trend of pushing Palestinian communities away by denying them access to essential resources. Neighboring communities such as Umm Jamal and Khirbet Samra have already left due to the pressure.
Over the years, MachsomWatch members have reported arrests on false claims by settlers, harassment and violence, including damage to herds, intrusion into homes, and the intimidation of children. MachsomWatch volunteers participate in a protective presence in areas around the spring to prevent harassment of shepherds due to the presence of settlers.
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Al-Hadidiyah
See all reports for this placeHumsah
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Humsah
A shepherd community in the Jordan Valley. It is located in a remote place in Area C. There are no convenient ways to reach it. Its inhabitants make a living from their flocks. Like other shepherd communities, they live without basic infrastructure. This shepherd community is exposed to settler harassment and demolition of property by the military through civil administration orders.
Nurit PopperDec-16-2027Nurit is threatened by settlers from close range.
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Jordan Valley
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Jordan Valley The Jordan Valley is the eastern strip of the West Bank. Its area consists of almost a third of the West Bank area. About 10,000 settlers live there, about 65,000 Palestinian residents in the villages and towns. In addition, about 15,000 are scattered in small shepherd communities. These communities are living in severe distress because of two types of harassment: the military declaring some of their living areas, as fire zones, evicting them for long hours from their residence to the scorching heat of the summer and the bitter cold of the winter. The other type is abuse by rioters who cling to the grazing areas of the shepherd communities, and the declared fire areas (without being deported). The many groundwaters in the Jordan Valley belong to Mekorot and are not available to Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley. The Palestinians bring water to their needs in high-cost followers.Nurit PopperDec-16-2027Nurit is threatened by settlers from close range.
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