West Bank settler outpost disrupts Palestinian village life
10 reported1 conflicting
A new Israeli settler outpost in the heart of the Palestinian Bedouin village of Um al-Kheir in the southern West Bank has severely restricted the daily life of residents, according to a report from the Christian Science Monitor. The outpost, consisting of four mobile homes, was built on the same grounds as the village, and a closed military zone declared by Israel’s military administration in late June has cut off a local shepherd’s access to his barn and livestock. The shepherd, Salem al-Hathaleen, is only permitted to feed and water his animals roughly every three days when accompanied by Israeli soldiers. His wife, Ikhlas al-Hathaleen, said the family of 14 cannot access their outhouse and must use facilities at a nearby community center or neighbor’s home. The village’s 200 residents are descendants of a Bedouin tribe displaced from the Negev Desert in 1948, and Israel considers the village illegally constructed, having executed repeated demolitions. The report notes that the outpost is part of an increase in settler activity and violence across the West Bank since October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking the war in Gaza.
What’s reported
A new Israeli settler outpost of four mobile homes was built in the heart of the Palestinian village of Um al-Kheir in the southern West Bank.
In late June, Israel’s military administration declared a thin strip of land between Salem al-Hathaleen’s home and his barn a closed military zone.
Hathaleen is only permitted to feed and water his livestock roughly every three days, when accompanied by Israeli soldiers.
The family of 14 cannot access their outhouse and must use a nearby community center or neighbor’s bathroom.
The village has 200 residents, descendants of a Bedouin tribe displaced from the Negev Desert in 1948.
Israel considers the village illegally constructed and has executed repeated demolitions.
The outpost joined several others on a nearby rocky outcrop that have been there since last September.
An Israeli court order telling settlers to stop construction has been ignored.
In early July, Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, visited the village and his vehicle was blocked and harassed by armed settlers.
Awdah al-Hathaleen, a prominent resident who helped film the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” was shot and killed by an Israeli settler named Yinon Levi one year ago; Levi was detained overnight, claimed self-defense, and was released.
Conflicting accounts
The Israeli military spokesperson’s office stated that the area of Um al-Kheir is within the boundaries of the settlement of Carmel, and a temporary closed military zone order was issued following repeated incidents of friction between Palestinian and Israeli civilians. The office also said the Hathaleen family is permitted to use the restroom facilities available to them. Villagers and human rights groups say settlers are trying to make life so miserable that residents will abandon everything and leave.
Key figures
Salem al-Hathaleen, Palestinian shepherd
Ikhlas al-Hathaleen, his wife
Michael Sfard, lawyer representing Um al-Kheir residents
Yair Dvir, spokesperson for B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization
Rep. Ro Khanna, California Democrat
Awdah al-Hathaleen, deceased resident and documentary filmmaker
Yinon Levi, Israeli settler who shot Awdah al-Hathaleen
Sources: csmonitor.com
