New West Bank Settlement Plan Threatens Palestinian Return to Al-Auja

A new settlement plan, "Yataf West," in the Jordan Valley threatens to permanently displace Palestinian residents from their ancestral lands near Al-Auja, according to Diana Mardhi, a field researcher for the "Bimkom, Planners for Human Rights" organization. The plan, which is being rapidly advanced by the Israeli government, is being built on land belonging to the village of Al-Auja and borders a Palestinian pastoral community that was once one of the largest in the West Bank.

Mardhi explained that the residents of this community were forced to leave after years of pressure and actions targeting their presence. They relied on surrounding lands for grazing and agriculture, and their existence was tied to the Al-Auja waterfall area, a vital resource and a site of Palestinian tourism. The settlement plan significantly reduces the chances of these residents returning to their land, especially as the physical landscape continues to change, despite ongoing legal efforts supported by Bimkom and activists.

She highlighted that the displaced families are now living in difficult conditions, scattered after their cohesive community was dismantled. Mardhi emphasized that the current planning is "irrational and inappropriate" as it prioritizes land control and Palestinian displacement over equitable resource distribution. She believes that documenting these events and collecting testimonies is crucial for informing the international community and potentially influencing the Israeli government.

Mardhi stressed that the situation constitutes a form of displacement and dispossession, not only involving land loss but also the deprivation of property and livelihoods. She noted that some Bedouin families have faced multiple displacements since 1948.