Israeli military training area in Jordan Valley displaces hundreds of Palestinians

BY

CALUM TOOGOOD

 – JANUARY 5, 2013

Hundreds of Palestinians have been displaced in the northern Jordan Valley during Israeli military exercises in the area. The inhabitants from the villages of Wadi Al-Maleh, Ein Hilwah, Wadi al-Faw, al-Maita, al-Bur and several other communities in the surrounding area received temporary evacuation orders.

The orders stated that they must leave their property for around 24 hours whilst military training is carried out. The training involved a conglomeration of military vehicles and personnel, which could be seen roaming across the hills and fields of the Jordan Valley throughout the day.

As residents of one of the affected villages, Ibrahim Daragmeh and his family had packed their belongings onto the back of a trailer for the night.

“Tonight we are sleeping under the sky,” he said. “We leave at six o’clock in the evening; it is forbidden for us to stay longer. And tomorrow at two in the afternoon we can return.”

In total around 1000 people are estimated to be temporarily displaced during this exercise. This is one of the largest mass evacuations to have occurred in the West Bank throughout the past year.

Those evacuated comprise around 75 families, many of who will have no shelter throughout the cold night.

In the village of Wadi Al-Maleh the villagers were ordered to only move less than 200 metres from their homes. They spent the night still in sight of their homes in the field to the east of the village.

The military training is being carried out in what is known as the firing zone; a closed military area designated by the Israeli military. Its governance falls under the jurisdiction of Israel and hence many restrictions are applied to the Palestinian communities located in this land.

The Palestinian villages in the firing zone are deemed illegal by the Israeli authorities. The villages often receive eviction and demolition orders, which have become commonplace in the area.

Many of these villages have little or no access to water or electricity infrastructure. Access to health and education services is also a hardship for the residents, who have to travel long distances to reach them, usually crossing checkpoints. Two of the schools which reside within the firing zone have demolition orders against them.

There are around 3,400 people encompassed within the firing zones of the Jordan Valley.

The Palestinian communities are not alone in the Jordan Valley however. Settlement outposts can also be found within the area. These communities are considered legitimate by the Israeli authorities, and in turn receive access to many of the amenities that the Palestinians are denied.

In November 2012, a similar exercise was carried out in the Jordan Valley resulting in the temporary eviction of many Palestinians. “Austere Challenge” was a joint military exercise between the Israeli and American military which for two days displaced hundreds from the local communities.

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