In the Jordan Valley, Palestinian shepherd Kadri Daraghmeh faces escalating harassment, with his livelihood at stake. His two sons are in prison, and his cattle pens have been emptied, leading to a dire situation. Last month, on December 25, settlers allegedly stole 100 of Kadri’s cattle, releasing some near a road and alerting Israeli police. As roaming cattle are illegal under Israeli law, the police confiscated the cows, demanding a payment of 49,000 shekels ($12,900) for the release of 19 cows.
Struggling to make the payment, Kadri received help from friends and Israeli activists. However, his troubles persisted. On January 7, two of Kadri’s sons were entrapped and arrested by a settler named Uri Cohen. Cohen had offered them a grazing spot for their cattle, promising an undisturbed environment. The sons accepted the offer, unaware of the trap. Cohen then informed the council inspector, who called the police. Upon arrival, the police cuffed the two men together and confiscated the remaining 60 cows, citing trespassing on “private land.”
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Kadri, along with his wife and two other sons, rushed to assist upon receiving the distressing call. The family now faces mounting challenges, with Kadri expressing the emotional and financial toll: “My children are in prison, and every day it’s just more money I need to pay when we don’t even have money to buy food.”
These incidents shed light on the intensified campaign of intimidation faced by Palestinian farmers and shepherds in the region. The collusion between illegal settlers and armed forces has created a hostile environment, leaving families like Kadri’s grappling with the loss of their livelihood and the unjust financial burden imposed on them. The plight of Palestinian farmers continues to escalate, prompting concerns about the need for international attention and intervention to address the ongoing challenges faced by these vulnerable communities.
‘Like a mafia’: Israeli settlers, army squeeze Palestinian shepherds out.#Palestinian farmers in the occupied #WestBank face increasing violence and harassment from settlers backed by Israeli forces.https://t.co/9Dea2XcInc
— The Palestine Project (@PalestineProjct) January 27, 2024
