Kisan, Bethlehem District: Settlers pepper spray farmer in the face and try to steal plants he had picked

On 12 March 2022, farmer Nayef ‘Abiyat (40) and his family went to some pastureland located west of the village to pick a wild edible plant, “aqub,” which local farmers sell during this season to supplement their income. Two settlers arrived, one carrying a club and the other pepper spray. They addressed the family in Hebrew, which the family does not understand, and then one of them pepper sprayed Nayef’ Abiyat in the face and tried to grab the plants he had picked. ‘Abiyat and his family fled back to the village. Local residents called the police, and the officers who arrived suggested ‘Abiyat go to the police station to file a complaint, but he did not think there was any point in doing so.

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