Israeli Settlers Steal Hundreds Of Residents' Lambs In West Bank Jordan Valley

ILLUSTRATION/West Fire/LET UNICEF/Alaa Badarneh

JAKARTA - The armed Israeli community stole hundreds of sheep from the Bedouin community in the Jordan Valley, the West Bank.

Bedouin residents in the area also reported being attacked and harassed. Such attacks have escalated since the Gaza war began, but witnesses said the incident scale on Friday near Ein al-Auja, north of Israel's occupied West Bank city, far beyond anything previously witnessed.

"This is the biggest attack ever," said Hani Zayed, a resident who lost 70 sheep in the attack.

After years of experience dealing with local law enforcement, the idea of asking the police for help was nothing more than just lifting the shoulder.

"The police did nothing, they never helped us in anything. If you tell them that the settlers are taking your sheep, they will ask 'Are you sure it belongs to you?'".

Local residents said about 1,500 sheep and goats were taken by settlers, who brought the animals from villages under police and army surveillance or loaded them into pickup trucks.

Israeli police statement denied the incident occurred as described.

The Israeli military did not comment, nor did the group representing the settlers in the area.

The Jordan Valley, a relatively rare area near the Jordan River, is now under increasing pressure from settlers, local residents and human rights groups say.

For many Bedouin herders, losing a herd means losing their way of living. Like many Palestinians, the semi-nomad herders in Ein al-Auja believe that the greater goal is to force them to leave the land to allow Israel to take full over.

Motivated by US President Donald Trump's speculation that lifting sanctions against the violent settlers would give the green light for the full annexation of the West Bank, Israeli ministers have spoken publicly about the full takeover of territory Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and has been occupied since then.

"The purpose of this attack is to vacate the area from its residents," said Musa Abayat, who lives with his father-in-law at the camp.

"This is the only source of livelihood," he said.