IOF seized land in the north without compensation: Israeli report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
24 May 2024 09:57

A report published by Israeli media reveals how the Israeli occupation forces are seizing the lands of Israeli settler farmers in the north without providing any financial compensation.

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An Israeli settler house in the northern Israeli-occupied border town of Metulla, which was damaged by Hezbollah shelling, is seen from the Lebanese side of the Lebanese-Palestinian border village of Kfar Kila, south Lebanon, on April 18, 2024. (AP)

Israeli media reported on Thursday the dissatisfaction of an Israeli settler working as a farmer from the northern settlements, near the border with Lebanon, where the Israeli occupation forces seized his land without any financial compensation.

Located in Western al-Jalil, the settler said in an interview with Channel 13, "I planned to plant garlic in the winter, followed by pumpkins, but since the beginning of the war, the army has taken over all my land, and I haven't received any compensation for almost 8 months."

Moreover, the settlers explained that "members of the Israeli security establishment came and said that the area belongs to them, as they received an order from the northern command, and I have not received anything," adding that "They said the army would contact me, but I haven't heard anything to this day. I approached several places from the northern command to the Ministry of Defense, but there was no response."

In addition, the Israeli settler underscored that "They built a high embankment 6.7 meters high, along the area, and did nothing else. They built it at the beginning of the war, and the entire area, as you can see, is filled with thorns and weeds. This is the situation."

The settler further highlighted that the IOF prevent him from plowing his land, resulting in minimal income. He stressed that living under such conditions is unsustainable, as the agricultural facility is in poor shape. They have been relying on bank loans to survive despite high interest rates. He mentioned that they also borrow money from friends to manage their financial situation, hoping for the return of their money.

Additionally, the Israeli settler clarified that his area is not directly on the border with Lebanon but is somewhat distant, and the settlers have not been evacuated from there yet.

Israelis in the North seek to partition, become 'State of Galilee'

During a meeting of "Israel's" Conflict Zone Forum, the leaders of the Israeli northern settlements decided to announce the establishment of the State of Galilee and fully separate from "Israel".

According to the Israeli news website Walla!, the step is set to be announced on "Independence Day". The media website explained that their decision was reached after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissive response to Benny Gantz's inquiry about settlers returning home for the school year, saying, "What would happen if they return a few months after September 1?"

This latest action follows the forum members' publication of protest advertisements in early April, where they publicly solicited bids to "locate the Israeli government."

As cited by Israeli media, the ads read, "A public tender to locate a government in Israel!" and "The Conflict Zone Forum invites proposals to be submitted to an alternative government in Israel as detailed in the tender documents."

Most significant was the ad which depicted the extent of the despair of Israeli settlers on the border with Lebanon that reads:

"The full details of the tender can be found in the evacuated hotels and the accommodation apartments of the displaced throughout the country, with the business owners who collapsed in the north, in the dead tourism areas in the north, and in the offices of the authorities in the north."

In parallel with these claims, settlers from abandoned settlements in northern occupied Palestine are planning demonstrations on May 16 in al-Quds and Haifa, advocating against a political agreement with Hezbollah and calling for security to be brought back to their region through military means.

This comes in the context of the intensified and unprecedented operations carried out by the Lebanese Resistance in support of the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip.