Jordan Valley, another day of violence - settlers against Palestinian shepherds
About 20 settlers attacked 3 Palestinian shepherds yesterday in Humsa in the Jordan Valley and seriously injured them. We arrived about 20 minutes after the attack and found arrogant and indifferent settlers walking around the camp around the bleeding wounded lying on the ground and their crying wives and daughters. When the army and police arrived, they addressed only the attacking settlers, who never stopped demanding that the commander arrest the Palestinians. An (Israeli) paramedic treated the wounded and asked to send them quickly to the hospital because their lives were in danger. The settlers surrounding them burst into derisive laughter. The army prevented the ambulance from taking them to the hospital, and only thanks to the insistence of the Israeli paramedic were they evacuated.
Such violent skirmishes have become routine. Similar to the above incident were “smaller” incidents: In Ein al-Hilweh, two settlers blocked the way for shepherds and cows to drink from the puddle left for them, after Israel drained the spring in order to harm/harass/steal from the locals. I photographed them and their car, and after a confrontation with the settler – the shepherds passed safely.
Half an hour later, in El Farsiya, settlers from the Rotem settlement, led by Gilad, with the son of the ravshtz (acronym for a locally elected security marshal, armed and paid for with our taxes) and two friends, invaded the village, walked around among the houses, peeked into the houses, and Gilad even locked himself in the outdoor bathroom for a full five minutes. In light of what happened yesterday in Humsa and their own past experience, the level of anxiety of the women (the men were not in the village) and especially the children was terrible. Nava and I chased the interlopers and photographed them until they left.
This is not unusual, it is not even rare, it is routine Jewish terrorism under the auspices and full backing of the army and the police. In the last two cases, our presence helped prevent escalation, perhaps even saved lives. It was one afternoon of protective presence (staying in the shepherds’ quarters without a break) and I call on everyone who reads this: If you care about the face of the country – join us in the protective presence in the occupied territories.
In addition to the above, in the morning we accompanied Shepherd H to the puddle in Ein El Hilweh, we drove over a nail and got a flat tire. A kind Palestinian came and stuck some rubber into the hole in the tire and so we were able to continue driving.
A Palestinian farmer from Bardala, who has 150 dunams of land near a new, violent outpost, approached us and asked if we could protect him in the fall when he wanted to sow. He said he didn’t want to invest in drip irrigation and equipment if we didn’t protect him. I told him that maybe during the sowing period we could recruit helpers for a day or two, but when the seeds sprouted, the settlers and their herds of cows would surely arrive, as they do everywhere, and destroy everything that grew there.
How can you live like this??
Shaken and exhausted we reached home before midnight. We, at least, have a safe home!
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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Humsah
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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.
Jun-21-2025The boys go down to the shepherd's S. living area (Photo Eran Maoz)
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