Qalqilya: For about a month, Israeli occupation forces have been conducting extensive land-leveling operations on lands belonging to residents of the villages of Jinsafut and Al-Funduq, east of Qalqilya.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Jalal Bashir, head of the Jinsafut village council, reported that these operations aim to pave a wide colonial road connecting Israeli colonies located east of Qalqilya city with its northern surroundings.
Bashir highlighted that the new road will intersect the main Qalqilya-Nablus road, known as "55," linking the settlements on Jinsafut village lands: Immanuel, Qarni Shomron, and Qedumim. This development is part of a broader plan to facilitate connectivity between Israeli colonies.
Louay Taym, head of the village council in Al-Funduq, expressed concerns over the project's impact on local agriculture. He stated that the road construction will destroy at least 220 dunams of fertile land, affecting around 70 farmers. Additionally, approximately 200 more dunams are at risk due to their proximity to the bypass road, potentially rendering them unusable for agricultural or residential purposes.
Taym further explained that the project has already resulted in the closure of several agricultural roads, complicating farmers' access to their lands. This has exacerbated the challenges faced by local farmers, making it increasingly difficult for them to reach and cultivate the remaining arable land.
Munif Nazzal, the official responsible for the settlement file in the Qalqilya Governorate, commented that the road construction is part of a colonial strategy to connect major settlement blocs while isolating and geographically separating Palestinian villages.