Following our previous attempt to provide water access to communities in the South Hebron Hills, which was met with unwarranted aggression toward activists and Palestinians by the IDF this Saturday we will return to the South Hebron Hills to continue the struggle for water access. The event is organized by the Palestinian residents of the area together with Combatants for Peace and more organizations.
Area C of the West Bank is home to about 300,000 Palestinians. The State of Israel, being the sovereign of the territory, is responsible for their welfare. Despite this, for many Palestinians living in Area C, and especially in the southern Hebron Mountains and the Jordan Valley, Israel in practice implements a policy of expulsion and ethnic cleansing.
One of the main examples of this policy concerns access to water. While illegal Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank enjoy a connection to all civilian infrastructure, including drinking water in every home, Israel does not allow water to be connected for thousands of Palestinians across the West Bank. In numbers, this is very clear - the daily water consumption per capita in Israel and the settlements is about 300 liters; The daily water consumption per person for Palestinians in the West Bank is about 70 liters per day.
In addition, Israel takes over natural springs used for generations by Palestinians, defines them as nature reserves or military firing zones, and prevents Palestinians from accessing them. [Settlers are, of course, welcome to take a swim in the cool spring water] Even natural cisterns that exist in these areas are sometimes classified by Israel as prohibited - and in many cases, the state destroys them or blocks them.
As a result of these circumstances, thousands of Palestinians are forced to transport water to their villages in trucks and tanks, while living close to settlements with swimming pools. Those transporting water often encounter harassment from the army and violent settlers.
Think about that for a moment -- how cruel can one be to deny humans of access to water? We cannot stand by and allow this to continue.
This Saturday, 2/10/21 we will gather once again in the South Hebron Hills for a water march to ensure that a water tank arrives at the Hamamda family, who have been denied by Israel the ability to freely access water.
Transportation details are available at this form https://forms.gle/ZJbD2UZtgy7ByWrZA
Please fill it out if you intend to come on organized transportation or in a private vehicle.
