Briefing Paper September 2019 (4)

Settlers and military intensify attacks in the Jordan Valley B’Tselem 15/05/19

In recent months, shepherds from the Palestinian community of al-Farisiyah in Tubas District, the northern Jordan Valley, have reported an upsurge in the frequency and severity of attacks by settlers. The settlers threaten shepherds, chase them, physically assault them, drive headlong into the flocks to scatter the sheep, and even run over or steal sheep. These attacks are now virtually a daily occurrence. Soldiers are usually present during these attacks and sometimes even take part, demanding that the shepherds get off the pastureland, citing various arguments, e.g., that the area is a closed military zone or belongs to one of the settlers. Soldiers detain shepherds and, in some cases, even arrest them on a variety of pretexts. These are no isolated incidents, but rather part of the policy Israel has been implementing in the Jordan Valley.. Its goal is to take over as much land as possible, while getting Palestinians to leave….

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