62% of the land of Palestine is classified by Iarael as Area C. That mans it is under the complete control of the army. The army's purpose is to facilitate settlements without paying compensation. Palestinians are treated as an annoyance, a stain to be removed. Every lever of power is used - court cases that are brought just for harassment, physical advise and mental abuse is used against them.
When the settlers deliberately damage Palesinian property, there is no penalty and Palestinians have no recourse. Settlers frequently poison or bulldoze orchards and olive groves. They intimidate the farmers. If a settler retaliates or defends their family's, they are charged with a crime. Often it is the international community that pays for replacement trees etc. If a Palestinian farmer does not have the deed to his land because it was not the custom at the time or it was lost, the military claims the land for settlements with no compensation. Isreali settlements deliberately polute Palestinian water supplies to try to get them to give up and leave.
When they are successful, they congratulate themselves on their great victory. Google "Gush Etzion" to see examples.
Before the settlements started, Iarael already controlled 78% of what was known as Mandate Palatine. But that was not enough. In Nahalin, settlements have already conficated 66% of the farmland but that is not enough. Greed, if it is allowed, appears to have no boundaries. The settlers did not invent greed but what does it say abut the morality of the political leadership of a state when they encourage it, promote it and facilitate it?
We visited the Tent of Nations, a farm in Nahalin, a small village in the district of Bethlehem. The Nassar family is the only family in the area with a deed to their land. For over 20 years, they have been harassed by settlers and the military. The settlers have killed almost 2000 trees. The military claims it has the right to approve all improvements - even a simple cistern to collect water. They don't approve any and they destroy improvements made without approval.
The settlement near the farm
The family keeps defending themselves in court but the harassment continues and the legal fees have been high, the time away from farming is distracting. If they miss a legal deadline for some response, they risk loosing their land. They depend on donations to pay the high costs. And yet, they continue to have faith, hope and love. They never react to the provocations, they act in a positive way. Their goal is to break the circle of violence. Blessed be the pacemakers.
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