Israeli Settlers Stole 1,500 Herd Animals From Bedouins, Rights Group Says
Israeli settlers in the West Bank have ramped up a troubling trend of livestock theft from local Arab communities, according to recent media reports. Reuters reported today about the theft on Friday of approximately 1,500 sheep and goats from a Bedouin community near Ein al-Auja, north of Jericho.
The Bedouins who spoke to Reuters claimed that settlers, police officers, and soldiers entered their community Friday night and accused the Bedouins of theft. They then began taking their livestock.
Activists from the Israeli rights group Looking the Occupation in the Eye documented the incident. B’Tselem, another Israeli human rights organization, has reported many similar instances, including a separate case of sheep stealing in Ein al-Auja in February 2024.
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The Bedouin community near Ein al-Auja has existed for approximately 40 years, relying heavily on livestock for their livelihood. The encampment lacks electricity, relying on mobile solar panels, and depends on water delivered by tankers.
Israeli police reportedly denied the incident occurred as described, while the military and settler representatives did not comment.
The West Bank’s Jordan Valley, a sparsely populated area near the Jordan River, has experienced increased settler activity in recent years, leading to concerns about displacement among Bedouin herders. Residents believe these actions aim to force them from the land to facilitate Israeli control.
The incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where settlement expansion and military measures have heightened fears among Palestinians of land dispossession and hindered prospects for an independent state.
