New Israeli Barrier Will Slice Through Precious West Bank Farmland
Julian Borger and Quique Kierszenbaum
The Guardian
December 13, 2025
Palestinian farmers in Atouf village received eviction notices on December 4 giving them seven days to vacate their land for construction of a military road and barrier, the first section of Israel's new 5.5bn-shekel "Crimson Thread" barrier that will eventually run 300 miles from the Golan Heights to the Red Sea.
Almost 85% of the 1,000 dunams (100 hectares) initially targeted are privately owned fertile farmland that Palestinian families have worked for generations, with up to 40 families facing separation from their village and water supply.
Israel's defence ministry says the barrier will "strengthen national security and strategic control of the eastern border," but human rights activists argue the real motive is land seizure and ethnic cleansing, noting that settlements are being built at record rates with tenders for over 5,600 housing units published this year.
Quotes:
"The Israeli military can do anything they like. They don't care about the law or anything else." - Ismael Bsharat, local farmer
"It is happening all through the Jordan valley, especially in the north. Israel is pushing forward, and accelerating the ethnic cleansing of this area." - Dror Etkes, founder of Kerem Navot organisation
"All these families have title deeds. They grow grapes, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, za'atar and olives. This land is very rich and that is the reason it is being taken. The whole aim is to take it over for settlers to use it." - Abdullah Bsharat, village council leader
We have to face reality. As mentioned by one of the Palestinian victims in one of the articles, the Israelies can do whatever they like. They have the power to do, kill, destroy, steal, abuse and "clean" whoever they want. The Americans (those of the USA) too. Not to mention the Russians. It is clear that it is "America first" - like Russia. The rest don't count much. Someone would now say "The military power, stupid". Common sense, justice, international law, human rights, friends, enemies, allies, foes, .... those are, as the song goes, "parole, parole parole" - not that relevant. The world has changed.
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