Hamam al Malih: The Israeli army and Border Police help the settlers facing Palestinians
Natalie and I came to Al-Farisiya around 7 a.m. in the rain that stopped a little while later. From there we joined A. to help him harvest corn which he uses to feed the sheep. After finishing, we helped M. who was cutting grass for his cattle.
Back at Al-Farisiya, A. was called from Khalat Makhoul, saying colonists on ATVs were driving right next to the flocks. We went there, three activists, but when we got there the colonists had already left.
At 3 p.m. colonists arrived at Ain al Hilwa on their ATVs. They passed through S.’s compound, F.’s. and finally Q.’s. In each of these sites were activists, which made them get on their way.
At Q.’s where I was with another five activists they stopped for a longer time. At some point they pretended to leave but stopped at the entrance to the compound. I walked over and stayed by the ATV. After a while I placed my hand on the door which was then suddenly opened by the driver. This made me lose my balance and fall. The other two settlers disembarked.
The rest of the activists joined me and for the next half hour, we were the target of a heavy rain of curses, until the settlers decided to leave.
A few minutes later, we had a call from Hamam al Malih, according to which the settlers were present there. Y., A. and myself went there immediately. When we got there, we saw a settler with his face bleeding, and the other two settlers shouting and threatening the Palestinians. A Palestinian girl stood aside, holding her chest and crying. According to the Palestinians, she was beaten up.
We stood between the two sides trying to calm things down, but the settlers’ verbal abuse would not stop. After about a quarter-of-an-hour all three settlers went back to their ATV and drove off to get help from the military base situated opposite Hamam al Malih. They returned with an army jeep, and the Border Police as well as security officials from the nearby settlement and more armed settlers followed soon afterward. At this point the police demanded that we leave.
Later we found out that a man and his son as well as a woman and her daughter were arrested. During the night, three of them were released, but the man remained in custody for another two days, until being released home on bail.
The night ended quietly, and I left the next morning at 5 a.m.
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-Farisiya / 'Ein a-sakut
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Al-Farisiya / 'Ein a-sakutA community of shepherds in the Jordan Valley opposite the settlement of "Rotem". Making a living from grazing sheep, the residents are exposed to harassment, abuse and theft from settlers who come to them from outposts and settlements in the area, and their grazing area is shrinking due to settler takeovers, fire zones and declared nature reserves.Machsom Watch companies participate in shepherd escort activities and provide a 24/7 protective presence, and there is continuous and warm contact with the community.
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