Jordan Valley: Jewish settlements continue to grow

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Observers: 
Nurit Poper (photos), Rachel Ilan, Dafna Banai (Reporting) Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham
Oct-2-2018
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Morning
Jordan Valley - Homsa: Shelter from the sun
Jordan Valley - Homsa: Shelter from the sun
Photo: 
Nurit Poper
Homsa: Bringing water in a tank
Homsa: Bringing water in a tank
Photo: 
Nurit Poper

 “My life is herding sheep.  Like a bird that will die if you clip its wings, I won’t be able to live if I can’t herd sheep.” – Iman from Samra

Expanding settlements – We saw 12 new prefab homes in the settlement of Mekora.  That were erected there this week.  We also saw new houses like these in the settlement of Bekaot.

Homsa - We visited all the shepherd communities in the valley behind Bekaot.  Two years ago, when the families were evicted because of military exercises, a rocket was fired on the kitchen tent and all the utensils were smashed.   The constant threat, together with the threats of demolition, harass them.   “I was born here.  My family was evicted from the Negev and then from the Southern Hebron Mountains.  But I don’t have any connection there, my home is only here!”   In one of the communities the women approached us and offered to return the lean-to that we offered them as shelter from the sun during exercises, when they are evicted from their homes.

The severe drought has done extensive damage to the flocks.  The shepherds had to buy food for their sheep all summer because the fields had no dry grass for them to eat.  They are not forced to buy peanut shells to feed their flocks. 

Samra – The three brothers closed their tents and moved to the town of Tubas for the difficult summer months.   When they returned two weeks ago they found that all their belongings – the refrigerator, the television set, beds, and everything they owned.  They want to go out to tend their flocks but are afraid to leave the tent site and wander close by for fear of the settlers.   They bought dried stems of tomato plants to feed the flocks.  

Ein El Hilwa Junction -  The police stopped a car and released it when we arrived.  Three young people were also released before we arrived.   They began walking because the car had continued on its way without them while they were detained for a half hour.   They looked pale and sweaty as they walked towards Tubas.

 

The new neighborhood in the settlement of Mekora: Come Live with us.
The new neighborhood in the settlement of Mekora: Come Live with us.
Photo: 
Nurit Poper
New neighborhood in the settlement of Bikaot: It’s fun to live here.
New neighborhood in the settlement of Bikaot: It’s fun to live here.
Photo: 
Nurit poper