Tag: District Coordination Office

Soldiers abandon Palestinian farmers in Kufr Qalil

24 October 2010 | International Solidarity Movement

Farmers in Kufr Qalil, near Nablus, were scheduled to receive army protection yesterday through the Israeli District Coordination Office (DCO), in order to harvest their olives on land near the illegal Bracha settlement. The family, accompanied by four international activists, went to the land and was initially pleased to find army jeeps nearby as planned. Later in the morning, two settlers came down from the nearby outpost, yelling at the Palestinians and internationals from across the settler-only road. As the nearby army vehicle came down, seemingly to intervene, the farmers were again relieved by the fact that the DCO was keeping their word. But the jeeps soon disappeared, while the settlers remained. Tension was high in the olive groves, and fear of what could happen prompted a phone call to Rabbis for Human Rights, who got in touch with the DCO, demanding that the “protection” return. The soldiers eventually came back, driving to the settlers and joining them across the road from the olive fields. They walked together, talking casually, but the army never approached the Palestinian farmers. After a short time, the owner of the farmland decided to give up and continue harvesting a safer plot of land, farther from the settlement, as he was feeling very nervous, and had three of his young grandchildren with him.

The Israeli DCO provides farmers with permits to access their own land with the protection of Israeli forces. Often these permits are only for a day or two (usually not long enough to complete a harvest), and the DCO decides which days the farmers can go. This means that they frequently have to choose between “army protection” and the best day for harvesting their livelihood, which often results in the army playing the opposite role, forcing farmers to leave their land. As can be seen from yesterday, even when Palestinians receive a permit and comply with the decisions of the DCO, they often don’t receive any sort of real protection, with the army leaving, or even protecting settlers when they harass the farmers.

Palestinians attacked by armed settlers in Burin

9 October 2010 | ISM Media

Burin, near Nablus

People from the village of Burin were attacked by 20 settlers, 5 of which had guns. They wanted to make a road leading up to the house of one of the villagers, Bilal Eid. that is on the top of a hill inside the small village of 3500 inhabitants. Just as the bulldozer started working, about 20 settlers went down from the illegal settlement of Givat Arozi, shouting and throwing stones at the bulldozer. Five of them were carrying guns.

The villagers called the Israeli DCO (District Coordination Office) to ask them to prevent the violence. Shortly after, one car with representatives from the DCO arrived on the spot together with soldiers.

When they saw the DCO and the soldiers, the settlers went quickly back towards the settlement. While retreating they were throwing stones to a house and destroyed about 12 olive trees by cutting them. When they cut the trees the villagers took photos to show to the DCO representatives, who did not show any interest. However nearby solders could easily have prevented this violence, but did nothing to stop the settlers.

The village of Burin is surrounded by four illegal settlements. The settlers intend to settle in what is left of Burins land, to connect the already existing settlements. The villagers have been suffering from regular settler attacks for many years. The mentioned house that the new road is leading up to had to be emptied five years ago, when settlers attacked it. While the family was still living there, one day about 100 settlers broke into the house, forced them out and stole everything – including the door and windows. The owner of the house now lives with his wife and four children in a small house inside the village, since they live in constant fear of a new attack. The action today was the first step to reclaim their house, by rebuilding and constructing a road leading to their house.