Olive Tree Campaign field invaded and Olive Trees uprooted

Category: Attacks on campaign' fields Created: 20 July 2012

Jabaa 19July2012 119th, July 2012

On Thursday; July 19th. 2012, The Israeli Civil Administration (Israeli Military Occupation) invaded the lands of Olive Tree Campaign's beneficiaries Izzat Abu Latifeh and Mohammed Abu Subhieh from the village of Jab'a.

The Israelis arrived to the land early in the morning, they brought JCB Bulldozers, military and civil vehicles to the land and started the destruction. Short after that, Izzat Abu Latifeh heard from eyewitnesses that the Israelis are on his land, he rushed to the land and tried to stop the destruction, the Israeli military prevented him from getting on the field unless he presents his documents of ownership, once he brought his Jabaa 19July2012 2documents the Israelis left, but it was too late. The destroyed more than 50 trees planted through OTC in response to the Israeli destruction of Izzat's property on February 22nd 2011.

The Israelis have also uprooted the roots of the trees they cut down in February 2011 as these roots started growing again, and then the Bulldozers destroyed old terraces on the land that Izzats father built more than 70 years ago. All the destruction was done to make the land look abandoned and remove evidence that the land has been cultivated; a procedure that leads to Israel’s confiscation and annexation of the land.

Jabaa 19July2012 3For so long, Palestinians have witnessed Israel confiscating their property and declare it as state land (annexation). This policy against the Palestinians is deemed illegal under international law, it violates the Geneva conventions in Particular where article 47 states: 'Protected persons who are in occupied territory shall not be deprived, in any case or in any manner whatsoever, of the benefits of the present Convention by any change introduced, as the result of the occupation of a territory, into the institutions or government of the said territory, nor by any agreement concluded between the authorities of the occupied territories and the Occupying Power, nor by any annexation by the latter of the whole or part of the occupied territory'.

Despite the frustrations, pain and agony caused by this destruction, the OTC will continue supporting the farmers in Jab'a by planting sponsored olive trees on their property and help them in their olive harvest.