BETHLEHEM, West Bank / PNN/
This week’s episode of “PNN Accountability” examined two issues closely linked to the Palestinian presence on Palestinian land: alleged Israeli targeting of Palestinian women by settlers in different parts of the West Bank, and the reported theft of Palestinian livestock and attacks on livestock owners and herders as part of what Palestinian officials describe as an expanding settler herding system.
Presented by PNN journalist Fayrouz Odeh, the episode focused in its first segment on attacks against Palestinian women. Ahlam Al-Wahsh, head of the General Union of Palestinian Women’s branch in Bethlehem governorate, discussed the different forms of attacks targeting Palestinian women and what she described as the longstanding Israeli policy of targeting women throughout the years of Palestinian struggle and resistance.
Al-Wahsh said the targeting of Palestinian women is a deliberate and systematic policy aimed at undermining women because of their role in sustaining Palestinian communities and remaining on their land.
She stressed the need for all sectors of Palestinian society, particularly the Palestinian government, to assume greater responsibility for protecting and supporting women.
Al-Wahsh highlighted the potential role of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in addressing these challenges. She said the ministry has announced projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening women's resilience and expressed hope that they would be implemented promptly to provide meaningful support to Palestinian women.
She also called on the Palestinian government to take practical measures to confront attacks targeting women and strengthen mechanisms for their protection and support.
The second segment featured Yunis Arrar, director of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission in the southern West Bank, who discussed what he described as a systematic Israeli policy of targeting Palestinian livestock and their owners.
Arrar said the theft of Palestinian livestock is part of broader efforts to undermine the Palestinian presence on the land, particularly in areas classified as Area C.
He stressed that the incidents should not be viewed as isolated acts by individuals, but as part of a broader policy. He said Israeli forces and police protect settlers accused of stealing dozens of sheep across the West Bank, from the north to the south.
Arrar discussed the difficulties facing livestock owners in the eastern Bethlehem communities of Rashaydeh and Al-Minya, as well as those living in Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank.
He described the targeting of livestock breeders and herders as one of the tools used to place pressure on Palestinian communities and advance efforts to displace them from their land.
In response to questions from “PNN Accountability,” Arrar also outlined support programmes provided by the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission to affected farmers and livestock owners.
These programmes include providing tents to farmers whose livestock shelters have been demolished, materials to help rebuild damaged animal shelters, water tanks needed for agricultural communities, solar-energy systems to provide electricity, and support for agricultural roads.
Through the programme, PNN seeks to document citizens’ experiences, bring their concerns to the attention of responsible institutions and examine the measures being taken to address the challenges affecting Palestinian communities.
Watch the full episode on PNN at the link below.
PNN Accountability: Palestinian Women and Livestock Targeted Amid Expanding Settler Pressure
Aggregated summary from an independent source. Read the original at PNN.