Israeli settlers steal water pipe used by Palestinians in Jordan Valley

Settlers stole a water pipe recently installed by the Palestinian Agricultural Relief for irrigation of crops.

2 min read

08 November, 2017

In October, Israel advanced plans for nearly 4,000 settler homes [AFP]

Israeli settlers stole a 400-metre water pipe used by Palestinians in the village of Ein el-Sakout in the Jordan Valley on Tuesday, official Palestinian Authority owned WAFA news agency reported, highlighting the growing tension in the region as illegal settlements grow.

Muataz Besharat, who monitors settlement activities in the area, told WAFA that settlers stole the water pipe that was recently installed by the Palestinian Agricultural Relief for irrigation of crops.

The village is located in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli military control and where the Palestinian government has no jurisdiction.

Palestinian residents in these areas are often harassed and attacked by Israeli settlers who often carry out their acts in the presence of Israeli military forces.

Israel wants to push the Palestinians out of the Jordan Valley using all means and replace them by Jewish settlers.

Settlers also attacked a Palestinian farmer in the Sakout area of the Jordan Valley last week while he was tending his land. They beat the farmer as he worked, leaving him with bruises throughout his body, the agency reported.

The water pipe theft comes just days after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pledged 200 million shekels ($57 million) to improve settler-only bypass roads in the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu made the pledge after facing bereaved families of settlers killed in the West Bank at Israel's parliament.

"I come now from a meeting with the finance minister and we decided together to immediately allocate 200 million shekels to paving roads... We're not just talking, we're doing. Our actions are consistent, systematic and determined," Netanyahu said.

He said the government planned to budget another 600 million shekels ($170 million) for further improvements.

Palestinians view bypass roads connecting Israeli settlements as another way to seize land and entrench a system of segregation which favours Jewish settlers over Palestinians.

In October, Israel advanced plans for nearly 4,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank as part of a push to boost settlement growth.