On 16 June 2010, a Palestinian farmer witnessed two settlers, believed to reside in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, walking through his garden.  Upon inspection, the farmer realized that his crops, planted with the assistance of USAID, had been destroyed and water pipes slashed.  According to the farmer, the damage to the crops totaled an estimated 10,000 NIS (about 2600 USD) The damaged crops are the primary food and economic resource for the extended family of thirty adults and thirty children. 

The Israeli Army and Israeli Police arrived a half-hour after the farmer call them to take statements.  The family filed an official complaint, but remain skeptical about doing so because they have filed complaints in the past and have never received justice.

The family lives between the settlement of Kiryat Arba and a set of prefabricated housing containers, installed about five years ago, called Havat Gal. 

The father of one of the children in the family said that he is often afraid to go to work because settlers in the area have threatened to kidnap his children.  On occasion, he will stay home and miss a day of work for fear of something happening to his family.  He recalled an incident involving the poisoning of his sheep, resulting in severe sickness of his children after they drank the milk from the sheep.  He showed CPTers official doctors’ notes confirming the poisoning.

For video showing the destruction and proximity of the farmer’s land to the settlements, click here