Israeli settlers today assaulted a Palestinian driver as he was working in the construction of an agricultural road in Masafer Yatta area, to the south of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
Coordinator of the Popular Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee in Hebron, Rateb Jabour, said that the group of settlers assaulted Jaber Shitat as he was operating an excavator as part of the construction of an agricultural road in Khallet al-Dabe‘ area, east of Yatta city, and sabotaged the excavator.
The road construction project was implemented in cooperation with the al-Tuwani Municipal Council.
The settlers cut off wires and damaged a fuel tank and spare tires, resulting in material losses estimated at ILS17,000 (some $5,300).
Masafer Yatta is a collection of almost 19 hamlets which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.
Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living – livestock.
It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.
Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.
Source: Palestinian New & Info Agency