Land Research Center

Violation: Halt of work notice for an agricultural facilities.

Location: Bardala village.

Date: November,18^th, 2024.

Perpetrator: The Israeli Civil Administration.

Victims: Three farmers from the village.

Details:

On November 18^th ,2024, the Israeli occupation authorities delivered a halt of work and construction in agricultural and residential structures in Bardala village, northern Jordan valley, on the pretext of building without a license.

The so-called building inspector of the occupation raided the southern part of the village, and affixed notices to the targeted buildings, taking pictures of them before leaving the area.

It is reported that the Israeli occupation targeted three agricultural buildings made of steel sheets with concrete floors, in addition to a sheep barn belonging to Mujahed Suliman Sawafta, Anwar Jamil Sawafta and Khaled Rushdi Sawafta. It also targeted two metal rooms used as a storage.

Targeted agricultural structures with stop work orders 

The occupation authorities have demanded in their notices to halt construction works and setting the date of 4/12/2024 for a meeting of the building and planning committee, which is based in the ‘Beit El’ settlement, to discuss what they referred to as the demolition of the construction or the restoration of the site to its previous condition.

Farmer Mujahed Sawafta told LRC:

‘’Previously, during 1970s, we lived in Qaa’un Plain, where agriculture was our main source of income. I owned more than 45 dunams there. However, the occupation came and imposed restrictions on our movements, forcibly displacing us from there. Then, I moved to Jbaris area south of Bardala village to settle there, yet the occupation insists on targeting everything.’’

 It is worth mentioning that Bardala village is facing constantly targeted by the occupation authorities, whether through the demolition of homes, the destruction of the agricultural sector, or even the targeting if water rights of farmers and residents there, It is important to note that Bardala village is a thirsty village located above a flowing river.

General Information about Bardala Village:

Bardala Village is located 25 km to the north of Tubas city. It is bordered to the north by the Green Line, to the west by Raba, to the east by Ein al-Bayda, and to the south by Kardala and Tubas city. As of 2014, its population was 2,112 people, and its total area is 18,329 dunams, of which 404 dunams are designated for the village's built-up area.

• The occupation has seized 252 dunams of its land for the construction of bypass roads, specifically for Road No. 90.
• For the construction of the separation wall, 819 dunams were seized, and 2,100 dunams were isolated behind it. The length of the wall is 8,197 meters. According to the Oslo Accords, 90% of Bardala's land is classified as Area C, which is under full Israeli control, while only 5% is classified as Area B. The land distribution is as follows:
•   Area B: 910 dunams.
•   Area C: 16,845 dunams.

 مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC V - FCDO

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of Land Research Center and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the project donor; the Norwegian Refugee Council.

إخلاء المسؤولية: الآراء ووجهات النظر الواردة في هذا التقرير هي آراء ووجهات نظر مركز أبحاث الأراضي ولا تعكس بالضرورة وجهات نظر أو مواقف الجهة المانحة للمشروع؛ المجلس النرويجي. للاجئين