Sheep Farms Used for Land Grabs in West Bank, CBS Report Claims

A "60 Minutes" report on CBS has alleged that sheep farms in the West Bank are being used as a tool for land appropriation, potentially harming Israeli-American relations. The program documented the atmosphere in the region, with interviewees warning of severe consequences.

According to Mordechai Minster, a co-founder of one such farm, the sheep serve to claim ownership of the land. "When you have sheep, everyone understands... this is a way to mark the border," he explained. The report states that approximately 200 such farms have been established recently, taking control of about 20 percent of the West Bank. This expansion is accompanied by a rise in settler violence against Palestinians, with over 1,600 incidents reported this year.

The report highlighted instances of violence, including an attack on Mahmoud Faraj's family by dozens of masked youths as they attempted to reach their home. Hassan, Mahmoud's cousin, recounted being attacked with wooden sticks and stones, and stated that one attacker shot his cousin in the head. During the documented confrontation, one youth headbutted Hassan, breaking his nose.

Jewish activists from the "Bnei Avraham" organization, some of whom grew up in settlements, intervened to protect the Palestinians. An activist named Amana expressed pain over the behavior of people she grew up with, suggesting their actions are ideologically threatening to the settlers. The report also noted that despite the severity of these events, enforcement appears minimal, with IDF soldiers documented in one instance removing Palestinian landowners while allowing Jewish youths to remain.

While the Israeli government has condemned the violence, it has also allocated tens of millions of shekels to expand these sheep farms. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel called the actions "disgusting bullying," and one interviewee described it as "state violence." The "60 Minutes" report suggested that if the Democratic Party wins the U.S. elections, military aid to Israel could be jeopardized due to these events. Minster expressed concern about losing the alliance with America but believed other allies could be found. Meanwhile, about 100 Palestinian communities have reportedly been uprooted or completely erased as a result of these developments.