Palestinian and International peace activists plant trees in isolated village

Sunday August 19, 2007 09:50 by IMEMC Staff

In spite the high August temperatures in Palestine, and the burning summer sunshine, dozens of international peace activities joined Palestinian villagers of Atouf village, east of Tubas in the West Bank, in order to aid the residents of the isolated village in planting their lands which dried out due to the Israeli siege and closure over the area.

The activity, which was called for by the Palestinian Agricultural Relief, started two days ago and Palestinians from different West Bank areas, accompanied by international supporters, arrived in the area and planted 120 trees, and planted roses in a public garden, in Atouf village.

The residents of the village aided the volunteers and provided them with the needed services in order to cope to the extreme summer heat.

During evening hours on Saturday, the volunteers participated in a seminar on the conditions in that area, and the general political conditions in the Palestinian territories.

The volunteer camp and activity in the village will continue for several more days, and the Palestinian Agricultural Relief called on different national and official institutions to attend a central festival in the village on August 23.

Atouf village was subjected to repeated Israeli illegal activities since 1967, the residents lost most of their lands, which are very green and fertile, for settlements construction and for what Israel calls “military usage”.

Atouf village is very small, surrounded with military camps and its villages are not allowed to herd their live-stock in most of their lands which became “closed military zones”.

Settlements in the Palestinian green and plains areas, in the occupied West Bank, are gradually expanding by annexing more Palestinian lands and placing the rest of the lands under strict closure imposed by the Israeli army.

After the second Intifada started , late 2000, the Palestinian plains areas, including Jericho and the surrounding areas, were sealed off by the Israeli army and became totally isolated which caused significant losses to the residents, especially since these areas are known as “the fruit basket of Palestine”.

Translated By Saed Bannoura - IMEMC 

west bank | non-violent action | news report saed at imemc dot org