2025-02-21
Violation: Cutting and vandalizing dozens of agricultural saplings
Location: Ramin Village / south of Tulkarm
Date: February,21 2025
Perpetrator:’’ Shavi Shomron’’ settlement
Affected Party: Farmer Imad Sami Abd Alazeez Sulaiman
Details:
On the afternoon of Friday, February,21 2025, a targeted attack occurred on a 9-duam agricultural plot located south of Ramin village, specifically within natural basin no.9, plot number,92, on the village lands. And just meter away from the ‘’Shavi Shomron’’ settlement.
It is noted that the settlers took advantage of the early evening hours and the absence of any farmers in the area to cut and damage various types pf saplings, as follows :
It is worth mentioning that the affected land belongs to farmer Imad Sami Sulaiman who supports a family of 4 members, two of them are females and with no children, he stated:
“This attack on my land is 3rd time within one year . the land was previously planted with live saplings, which the settlers uprooted in February, 2024. They also stole agricultural fences from mu land. Each time I replant the land, the settlers carry out acts of sabotage again. Despite all the obstacles and challenges, I insist to stay on my land. I have field numerous complaints and even approached the occupation policy but no avail. I am determined to continue cultivating my land, no matter the cost. I also face harassment when I’m on my land, as settlers have previously attempted to assault me.’’
The field researcher has documented numerous incidents in which settlers attacked the lands of Ramin, Deir Sharaf and Wadi Alsh’ir area. The settlers establishment a grazing outpost in over a year ago. From which they launch acts of sabotage and destruction. These attacks have included the leveling of large areas of land and the construction of various agricultural crops.
Ramin Village:
Ramin village is located 11.5 kilometers to the southeast of Tulkarm city. The "Enab" settlement, which was built at the expense of the village lands in 1981, is located on its lands from the western side, confiscating approximately 700 dunums of the village lands. To the east are the villages of Burqa and Mas'udiya, to the south is bypass road number 557 and the villages of Beit Lid and Saffarin, and to the north are the villages of Anabta and Kafr al Labad.
The area of Ramin village is 8,934 dunums, inhabited by approximately 1,998 people according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in 2017.
Legal Commentary:
The Palestinian environment, in general, is subjected to numerous environmental violations by the Israeli occupation, disregarding all international and national laws and conventions related to the protection of environmental rights. The right to live in a clean and healthy environment is a fundamental human right that has been inherent to mankind since the beginning of creation. The occupation often attempts to present itself as being concerned with international environmental issues, despite having signed major environmental protection agreements, such as the Basel Convention in 1989, the Rotterdam Convention in 2008, the Stockholm Convention in 2001, and the Ramsar Convention in 1971, as well as air quality and climate protocols. Nevertheless, Israel continues to violate all of these treaties without accountability or oversight.
In addition to the provisions regarding the right to enjoy a clean and healthy environment for all those under military occupation according to international laws, conventions, and treaties, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 2200A (d-21) on December 16, 1966, in Article (1), paragraph (2): "...All peoples, in pursuit of their own objectives, have the right to freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising from the international economic cooperation based on the principle of mutual benefit and international law. In no case shall a people be deprived of its means of subsistence...".
Undoubtedly, the violations carried out by the Israeli occupation contradicts with the laws of the occupation state itself before any other laws. Referring to the details of this case, the Israeli Penal Code of 1977 and its amendments stipulate that trespassing on someone else's property to commit a criminal act punishable by law is an offense. By reading Article 452 of the Israeli Penal Code, we find that the law punishes those who commit an offense or cause damage to property such as (a water well, a water reservoir, a dam, a floodgate, planted trees, a bridge, a tank, or a water cistern) with a penalty of five years imprisonment.
In addition to, Article 447 of the Penal Code states: "Anyone who does any of the following with the intent to intimidate, insult, or harass the property owner or commit a crime shall be punished by imprisonment for two years:
(1) Enters or crosses the property;
(2) After entering the property legally, remains there unlawfully.
(b) A crime is committed under this section if the offender carries a firearm or a cold weapon, and the punishment is imprisonment for four years."
By reading the text of this article, we find that the Israeli Penal Code criminalizes the mere act of entering someone else's property without permission, with the intent to insult, harass, or intimidate, and punishes this act with two years of imprisonment. The punishment increases to four years if the offender commits any act on someone else's property using a weapon or a sharp tool, referred to as a "cold weapon." This is explicitly criminalized in the text of Article 447 of the aforementioned Israeli Penal Code. Additionally, a penalty of 5 years imprisonment is imposed on those who cause damage to property mentioned in Article 452. Therefore, the violator, the "settler," should face a compounded violation: the first for entering a property that is not theirs, and the second for trespassing on and cutting down the planted trees, resulting in environmental harm.
Therefore, the Israeli aggressor blatantly violates both international laws and treaties, as well as the internal laws of the "occupying state," in a clear violation. Consequently, the "Israeli judiciary" must hold the settlers accountable and punish them for these actions based on the provisions of their own laws. However, there is no legal accountability for the aggressors by the Israeli judiciary. Despite this, every human being on this earth has the right to live in a clean, healthy, and safe environment, free from any violation or aggression against it.
مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - 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
