The Jordan Valley: Settlers and the army cooperate to cleanse the valley of Palestinians
I took Hagar to the “protective presence” (which remains on site day and night) at Hamam El Maliach, which is now in the eye of the storm. You may notice that a new outpost pops up every minute close to a Palestinian village in the Jordan Valley, the reason being to force residents out of the village.
Such an outpost has recently been established near Umm Jamal and Hamam El Maliach. The plan was first to expel the residents of Umm Jamal, which happened at very quickly, you could say in the twinkling of an eye. The green shacks of the village were left abandoned and the families fled, while they could, to the village above them (Tiyassir or Tubas).
The settlers in the outpost are now free to do the same at Hamam El Maliach. An international group of volunteers together with the Jordan Valley escort group have been going out to pasture with them for several days.
It’s clear that the army is totally on the settlers’ side and doesn’t even try to hide it. The offices, the Jordan Valley operations room or whatever it’s called, answer calls on automatic:
Hello: Who’s speaking?
I give my name and the name of the organization
Are you a civilian?
Yes
We don’t talk to civilians. [Hangs up]
That’s it, the latest. Until now they would answer and even listen and try to clarify, check and help (OK, I’m exaggerating). That’s enough. It’s over.
In the field, the settlers mingle with soldiers indistinguishably. The settler, who himself has a restraining order, calls for the soldier to do his work. And afterwards, they race off to happiness in a jeep. Never a dull moment. One event after the next at lightning speed.
Family visits, talks about the situation etc., are pleasant and interesting. Finally, you get to meet people you can talk to and feel alike. They’re about to destroy us all together. It’s so easy.
The kids come home from school. In wartime, checkpoints are closed again, but despite that, there are some schooldays.
Location Description
Jordan Valley
See all reports for this place-
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.
Rachel AfekApr-11-2025Samar, the girl from Faresya
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