Israeli colonists graze their sheep on Palestinians’ land south of Hebron

HEBRON: Israeli colonists Saturday evening grazed their sheep on Palestinians’ land in Khirbet al-Halawa hamlet of the Masafer Yatta, south of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, according to a local anti-settler-colonialism activist.

Osama Makhamra said that Israeli colonists grazed and pastured over 500 sheep on olive groves at the Umm Sarara area, belonging to the Palestinian shepherd community of Khirbet al-Halawa, destroyed the latter’s water tanks used for irrigation and metal poles along with the barbed wire fence used to protect the groves.

The owners of the vandalized olive groves were identified as members of the Abu Younes Mohammad family.

Khirbet al-Halawa is one of 19 hamlets making up Masafer Yatta, which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.

Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living – lives
tock.

It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.

Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA