Ramallah: Israeli colonists on Thursday dismantled a metal fence surrounding agricultural land and stole construction materials in the village of Al-Taybeh, northeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. Suleiman Khoury, mayor of Al-Taybeh, reported that a group of colonists had been involved in these activities since the morning, targeting an almond and olive farm that spans 20 to 30 dunams. The colonists also took dozens of containers of construction materials from a local concrete factory.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, these attacks extended to the grazing of sheep on Palestinian agricultural land, which many families rely on for their livelihood. Despite the Israeli army's declaration of Al-Taybeh as a closed military zone, the violations have persisted. The military order, issued on Monday, was meant to restrict access to the village to only its residents and those living nearby, barring colonists and foreigners from entering.
Khoury expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the military order, as the municipality only became aware of it through media reports without receiving any official communication. The order has seemingly had no impact on the ground, with colonists continuing their activities in and around the town and within five colonial outposts established on its land. Khoury questioned the intent behind the order, suggesting it might be aimed at preventing activists, foreigners, and journalists from documenting the escalating attacks.
The economy of Al-Taybeh has been severely impacted since October 7, 2023, primarily due to the colonist attacks. Khoury highlighted that residents are now barred from accessing 66 percent of the town's agricultural land. "The damage is very extensive," he stated, noting that colonists have restricted access to 16,000 out of 24,000 dunams of land, most of which is planted with olive trees that sustain hundreds of families. The attacks have also caused direct damage to several local facilities, including a quarry and a cement factory.
Khoury warned of a potential displacement project targeting Al-Taybeh, citing both security and economic threats. He argued that the loss of security and economic stability might compel residents to consider leaving their homes. He dismissed the notion that the village's Christian identity makes it a specific target, emphasizing that towns and villages in the region face similar threats regardless of religious affiliation. "We are equal and face the same fate. There is no difference between Christians and Muslims for them. They attack us because we are Palestinians," Khoury asserted.