Hebron:Israeli occupation authorities have issued a military order for the removal of almond trees and wild vegetation from 37.8 dunums of land in the towns of Dura and Tarqumiya, located in the Hebron governorate. This order affects land along a 7.5-kilometer route.
According to Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA – English, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission disclosed that landowners or property managers must execute the removal within seven days following a field inspection by the Israeli liaison authority. Failure to comply within this period may result in an Israeli military commander authorizing others to perform the work.
The commission highlighted that the order restricts the period for filing objections to seven days from the inspection date, providing a limited timeframe for landowners to contest the order. It emphasized that the removal of vegetation poses a threat to the agricultural and environmental landscape, potentially undermining Palestinian land use.
Additionally, the commission noted that the security justification cited for the order serves as a means to enforce changes on the ground. It stressed that the impact of the order goes beyond the immediate area, affecting the economic and environmental value of the trees and the deep-rooted connection between farmers and their land.
The commission clarified that while the order pertains to vegetation removal, it does not involve the transfer of land ownership. However, it warned that the military's involvement in altering land use is a serious matter, potentially causing harm to landowners' interests.