Earlier this week, some farmers received a most unwelcome disturbance. It was the Israeli settlers from the illegal development, who came to cut down the grapes and destroy the olive trees that were their livelihood.
This is going on all over the Occupied Territories at present. In other places it appears to be the IDF.
At Wadi Fuqeen, one of the eye-witnesses said:
“Whoever was awake ran towards the sound to defend the village. There were a few young settlers with tools destroying some trees close to settlement. When they saw the villagers they began insulting and shouting at us.
The security of the settlement focused the light of their cars towards us. Luckily, the Israeli soldiers arrived and began to take the settlers away from the fields. But settlers did not stop threatening and saying that it will not be the last one but more attacks will come later and not just on trees. The soldiers tried to calm down the villagers and they understood the anger that they had. They prevented a big incident to happen if they were late.”
This can be seen as a red light because once, a few weeks ago, one of the villagers heard settlers saying at the entrance of the village. “do not worry in two years there will be no village of Wadi Fouqin”.
So the IDF are a bit all over the place. However, there is some very good pressure being exerted by Lib Dem peer Sal Brinton who has an oral question down in the House of Lords asking what the UK government is doing on this subject, given the change in the Israeli coalition that might exclude at least some far-Right elements.
To read more about the Friends of Wadi Fuqeen visit http://wadifuqeenfriends.com/. They are one of a number of excellent Friends groups that help Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories. They deserve your support.
