Settlers Uproot GSC Trees in Atuwani

Fight Back Against Settler Destruction

Last Thursday, December 24th, Israeli settlers–likely from the outpost of Havat Ma’on–entered Palestinian lands in the South Hebron Hills village of Atuwani in order to uproot and steal approximately 34 olive trees. Of those olive trees, through our olive tree planting program, a program by which international donations are turned into trees to secure vulnerable Palestinian lands.

In the case of Atuwani, the trees were planted in the eastern section of the village’s Sumud Freedom Garden in cooperation with Youth of Sumud. The attack on these trees, as well as their theft, represents exactly what Israeli settlers have been doing across the West Bank for decades: expand their control of land and resources. Over the years, Israeli settlements have crept across the South Hebron HIlls, built on lands belonging to the villages next door, using similar tactics to intimidate the local Palestinian communities. In particular, settlers find a double success in sabotaging Palestinians’ ability to grow and sustain crops: it harms the community economically, while clearing land for use by the settlement.

That is the importance of our olive tree campaign. It is not just about planting olive trees for humanitarian purposes or to have photos opportunities announcing our dedication to solidarity, but rather to help secure vulnerable lands. All of the areas in which we plant trees are at-risk. Situated on the edge of the land still controlled by the village of Atuwani and beside all of the lands that have been taken over by the settlement, the Sumud Freedom Garden represents a space where residents of Atuwani can make a statement, challenge settler aggressions and link international advocacy campaigns with our foreign volunteer program.