Taibe Residents Protest Land Confiscation Plans, Environmental Threats

The Popular Committee and Farmers' Committee in Taibe announced on Friday their intention to hold a protest on Saturday, September 19th, under the slogan 'Taibe is Calling You... Don't Fail Her.' The protest is a response to the approval of plans for Road 533 and the 'Alexander' junction, which threaten to confiscate land from residents of Taibe, Tayibe, and Qalansawe.

In a joint statement, the committees described the plans as "one of the most dangerous racist attacks and systematic targeting of its land and future," citing intentions to confiscate land, demolish homes, and stifle the city. They specifically highlighted a plan to establish a large waste landfill covering 2,100 dunams of land near Highway 6, warning of a "real environmental and health disaster" that could lead to chronic and cancerous diseases due to air, water, and soil pollution.

The statement also raised concerns about traffic congestion from constant heavy truck movement associated with the landfill, exacerbating existing traffic issues. Furthermore, plans for the 444 and 553 bypass roads, which will be built on Taibe land, are expected to result in the confiscation of over 500 dunams without benefiting local residents. The committees also warned of the imminent danger of demolishing homes and agricultural structures west of Highway 6.

"Silence is no longer an option," the committees declared, urging residents to unite in defense of their land and rights. They emphasized that this is a collective struggle for every household in Taibe and that indifference is complicity. Residents are called to participate in the protest on Saturday at 5 PM next to the protest tent on Road 444, and to join daily activities at the tent.

The protest aims to push back against these "unjust plans" and protect the residents' land, homes, and future.