Occupation Closes All Roads Leading to the Agricultural Plain of Arraba South of Jenin

SadaNews - Today, Wednesday, Israeli occupation bulldozers closed all entrances and agricultural roads leading to the agricultural plain of Arraba, south of Jenin, extending from the area of Arraba station to the entrances leading to the town of Ya'bad, isolating one of the largest agricultural areas in northern West Bank and preventing farmers from easily accessing their lands.

Farmers in the area reported that the occupation closed the agricultural roads that were established over the past years with the efforts of the Arraba municipality and in cooperation with several agricultural associations and organizations, aiming to serve the agricultural sector and facilitate the movement of farmers and agricultural machinery within the plain.

Farmers pointed out that these roads had constituted a vital artery for the agricultural lands scattered in the region over the past years, contributing to the development of agricultural production and reducing the cost of accessing farms and transporting crops.

Farmers confirmed that closing the roads will directly impact daily agricultural activities, particularly concerning plowing, irrigation, transportation of agricultural supplies, harvesting crops, and marketing them, noting that access to many lands has become more difficult, while some agricultural areas have become nearly isolated due to the earth barriers and obstacles set by the occupation forces.

On the other hand, citizens pointed out that the new measures by the occupation come as part of a continued policy of tightening restrictions on the Palestinian agricultural sector, especially in areas close to bypass roads, military sites, and colonial projects, at a time when the occupation authorities are continuing works related to colonial projects in the northern surroundings of Arraba, raising fears of imposing further restrictions on agricultural lands in the future.

Agricultural experts warned that the ongoing closure of agricultural roads negatively impacts agricultural production and local food security and increases the economic burdens faced by farmers, particularly amid the difficult economic conditions that the Palestinian territories have been witnessing recently.

Farmers and agricultural institutions called for the opening of agricultural roads and the removal of the earth barriers hindering access to the lands, stressing that the continued closure of the entrances to the Arraba plain threatens the livelihood of hundreds of families and directly harms one of the most important agricultural plains in northern West Bank.

It is worth mentioning that the Arraba plain is one of the most important agricultural areas in Jenin Governorate, as the area of the surrounding agricultural and mountainous region is estimated to be around 28,000 dunams, while the agricultural plain itself exceeds 15,000 dunams. This land is home to crops of grains, vegetables, and fruit trees, in addition to livestock farms, making the plain one of the most important sources of income for hundreds of Palestinian families.

The escalation of the occupation comes amid the Palestinian economy suffering from significant challenges, including declining job opportunities, difficulties facing trade and movement, in addition to the increasing pressures on the agricultural sector, which represents one of the most important pillars of economic resilience in the rural areas of Palestine.