Tayibe Residents Protest Israeli Land Confiscation Plans for Waste Dump

A public awareness seminar was held on Friday in Tayibe's municipal theater to discuss the repercussions of Israeli plans to confiscate approximately 4,000 dunams of private land in the city's plain. The confiscated land is intended for the establishment of a waste dump and infrastructure projects, which participants argued threaten the city's future and its residents' well-being. The seminar, attended by members of the popular committee, university students, lecturers, lawyers, and engineers, aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of these Israeli projects.

Speakers at the event included Sobhi Hodhod Haj Yahya, head of the Farmers' Committee; Dr. Raed Amsha, a committee member and farmer; Hossam Azem, secretary of the Front in Tayibe; lawyer and activist Reda Jaber; and journalist Diya Haj Yahya. They detailed how the proposed projects, including a solid waste and container complex (2,100 dunams), bypass road 444 (1,100 dunams), and traffic diversion 553 (700-800 dunams), would consume the city's last remaining open space.

Haj Yahya stated that the seminar is part of ongoing protests and aims to mobilize educated youth to understand the risks. He asserted that the projects are driven by political and racist motives, citing figures like Smotrich and Ben Gvir. He highlighted that the chosen site for the waste dump, on private land, was selected despite previous alternatives on state land, suggesting a deliberate targeting of private property.

Lawyer Reda Jaber emphasized the importance of engaging the educated segment of society, including professionals, in defending their community's rights. He called for this group to lead and organize the community's efforts, stressing that the community possesses significant untapped resources that should be invested in these struggles to protect their gains and future.