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Testimonies

Burin: Settlers destroy groves and steal olives from Palestinian lands, October 2002

Muhammad Zein, farmer, age 40, resident of Burin, Nablus District.

I live in Burin and own a plot of land with an area of 5 dunams. There are olive trees on the plot, and it is situated approximately one kilometer from my home and approximately 400 meters from the settlement of Yizhar.

On Saturday, October 19, 2002, when I reached my land, I found that the settlers had cut down some 52 olive trees, after harvesting the olives. We found long wooden poles on the site that had been used to harvest the olives.

On Wednesday, October 23, 2002, at approximately 5:30 am in the morning, I went out from my home with my wife and one of my relatives toward my land in order to harvest olives. We harvested olives until 12:00 noon. Then four settlers arrived on the land, and shot approximately five shots in the air. They came up to a meter away from us and demanded that we leave the land. I was afraid, and decided to take my wife and relative and return home, in case the settlers hurt us. When we reached the by-pass road that leads to the settlement of Yizhar, an Israeli army jeep stopped us, and the soldiers inside asked us why we were coming back from our land. We told them that the settlers had shot in the air just a meter away from us. One of the four soldiers in the jeep told me; 'So you'd better go back quickly to your home in the village.'” The jeep left without asking where the settlers were who had harassed us and entered our land.

On Thursday, October 24, 2002, I went to harvest olives at another place in the village, because I couldn't reach my land close to the settlement of Yizhar. I am scared for my life because of the settlers, who do not want to see me harvesting olives and making a living for my family.

I am a farmer and I have no profession other than the olives. They are the only source of income for my family and myself.

Muhammad Raja Muhammad Zein, age 40, is married and the father of five. He is a farmer and resident of Burin, Nablus district. The Testimony was taken by 'Ali Daraghmeh, by telephone, October 24, 2002.