Conservation, not confiscation - stop land theft now

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Subject: Conservation, not confiscation - stop land theft now

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Dear Friends,

The majority of us have the luxury of taking some things for granted. Clean water will come out of our taps, AC will cool us down in the heat, and we can find a park or open space for when we need to breathe some fresh air. Now, imagine if that park was suddenly closed to you, but open to your next door neighbour. How does that make sense? Aren’t you both equal? That is the reality facing the Palestinian residents of Area C, and it is only getting worse.

Nahal Og in Hebrew, or Wadi al-Muqallek in Arabic, is a winterbourne stream which flows from high in the Jerusalem mountains, to the depths of the Dead Sea. Located in the Occupied West Bank, this area of natural beauty is popular with hikers, sightseers, and settlers. Why? Because the stream is a natural water source, so clearly communities would want to benefit from it. To this end, Israel resourcefully built a reservoir to provide water for neighbouring villages. But not all villages, only the Jewish Israeli settlement ones.

To make matters even worse, following a pledge by Prime Minister Bennett back in 2020, the area of Nahal Og/Wadi al-Muqallek is to be designated as an Israeli Nature Reserve. This status would allow Israel to impose harsh restrictions on any activities in the area and claim 5,400 acres of land as a protected space, 1,500 acres of which is privately owned Palestinian land.

SUPPORT ACTIVISM, SUPPORT HOPE

This is the reality for Palestinians living under occupation. The decision to declare a nature reserve is not one based on concern for the environment, it is a clear violation of power and theft of land, property and rights. We are calling on the government to cancel the designation, and to stop stealing Palestinian land under the cover of enviromental preservation. This isn’t conservation, it’s confiscation.

Combatants for Peace held a protest of Palestinians and Israelis at the Almog Junction near Jericho to make our voice heard, and show that we won’t let this unjust decision pass by under the radar or go unchallenged. Below are some more updates from our recent work in the field, and our action on the ground.

Stay hopeful! Our activists are out in large numbers representing us all, and uniting Israelis and Palestinians across borders and through check-points to show that there is another way. Dialogue is necessary, but action is essential. Join us.

In Peace & Solidarity from Israel/Palestine

Rana Salman

Palestinian Director

Yonatan Gher

Israeli Director

Marking 55 Years of occupation - peaceful march and protest

Combatants for Peace joined forces with several other peace and human rights organisations and held a march and demonstration in the heart of Tel Aviv, calling for the end of occupation. Together with thousands of people, we rallied against the harmful policies keeping Palestinians living under occupation rule, and demanding equality, justice and freedom for all. One of our leading activists, Sayel Jabarin from Ramallah, was a key-note speaker at the rally;

“I am 39 years old, so I was born into this occupation, as were my three children. I understand that today for the majority of the Israeli public, occupation is just a word….For me, and for all of us, occupation is not just a word - but a mechanism which imposes itself on us, dictates our lives, and determines what is allowed, and what is forbidden.”
Sayel Jabarin

Non-Violence and Justice Action

Palestinian and Israeli women joined together in Beit Jala in Area C, to call for an end to the violence, and freedom and safety for Palestinian women. The activists held the photos of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh shot in the Jenin refugee camp, and Ghufran Warasneh who was shot and killed in the Arroub refugee camp.

Additionally, together with a group of Israeli NGOs and activists we signed a letter to urge the UN to investigate the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.

“Principled Israelis, and not only from the NGOs who are already engaged alongside the Palestinians in the pursuit of justice and accountability, oppose the occupation and related oppression of the Palestinians and demand an end to it. This is the most solid alliance to pave the way toward peace I can think of.”

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Subject: Conservation, not confiscation - stop land theft now