Summary

The escalation of settler violence continues in Ras Ein al-‘Auja. Late at night, hilltop youth armed with sticks and pepper spray arrived on an ATV at the courtyard of the hospitality tent (the madafa) where protective-presence activists stay. They pepper-sprayed the young women who were there. From there they proceeded to the outpost they established at the “Burnt Houses.” Daily incursions into the village with flocks continued throughout the week.

The hilltop youth also target the villagers’ animals. They abused a donkey they had stolen and caused its death by tying it to their vehicle and dragging it at high speed until stopping and abandoning the bleeding animal by the village road. Activists contacted the police and the Jordan Valley hotline, but no search for the perpetrators—who came from the direction of Kokhav HaShahar—was carried out.

As usual, even on Saturday the outpost youth, their handlers, and their guests did not rest. They violently attacked activists attempting to block them from entering villagers’ homes. One youth pinched a female activist’s arm. At the “Burnt Houses” outpost, extensive construction was documented during the week, involving minors transported in a vehicle identified as belonging to the “Einot Kedem” farm of Omer Atidya.

‍

Sunday

The security coordinator (ravshatz) of Mevo’ot Yericho left his community’s boundaries and entered the area of the Salameh family’s homes and courtyards in Ras Ein al-‘Auja while armed. He walked among the houses in full view of children, women, and men.

‍

Monday

A young man from the outpost of Avishai and Micha, near Ras Ein al-‘Auja, herded a flock into the area of the Salameh family’s homes both in the morning and in the afternoon. Activists from “Looking the Occupation in the Eye” called the police. The Mevo’ot Yericho security coordinator also arrived and was heard on the phone telling police officers that the area the trespasser was in “belongs to no one.” He approached the activists, filmed them, and—as usual—harassed them verbally with taunts and lectures.

Later that day, settlers chased a car with young men from Ras Ein al-‘Auja, who fled into the village. One of their tires was damaged. At the “Burnt Houses” outpost, a large flock and two vehicles delivering 10 youths who engaged in construction work were documented.

‍

Tuesday

A group of archaeologists arrived to conduct excavations at the hill above the Salameh family homes. Settlers from the outpost approached the houses with a flock but, unlike usual, did not enter the courtyards and remained at a relatively large distance from residents. In the afternoon, settlers were seen near the home of the Na‘if family.

From Fasayil, there was a report of a settler and two girls with a flock and an ATV roaming near the home of the ‘Abbad family, whom they regularly threaten.

‍

Wednesday

A flock and its shepherd from the outpost near Ras Ein al-‘Auja entered the area of the Abu Taleb family homes and then continued to the Salameh family. The shepherd entered the Palestinian family’s shed, led his flock into their animal pen, and fed his goats from Palestinian livestock feed. In addition, two hilltop youths on an ATV drove along the village’s main road toward the “Burnt Houses” outpost. On the way, they stopped at the hospitality tent and left a large garbage bag at the entrance.

Late at night, three settlers arrived on an ATV at the tent’s courtyard and pepper-sprayed women activists who were present.

‍

Thursday

A settler from the outpost entered the area of the Salameh family homes with his flock while wearing tefillin and praying. He then led the flock to the villagers’ beehives, allowing the animals to climb on them.

Micha Sudai, one of the founders of the outpost near Ras Ein al-‘Auja, blocked the access road to the Na‘if home. Meir Nir, an inspector from the Jordan Valley Regional Council, positioned his vehicle nearby and photographed the Na‘if family home and its residents. In the afternoon there was another incursion, as a flock was led into the compound of the Abu Taleb family homes. The shepherd walked along the garden fences and behaved violently toward activists.

‍

Friday

Two police cars arrived at the Salameh family home, where a shepherd-settler had tied his donkey to the fence. The officer suggested to activists not to “get involved” with the flock since the shepherd was “not approaching the houses.” In the afternoon, the shepherd returned for a second incursion with a flock and entered the Salameh courtyards. He kicked a young activist and threw a stone that struck another activist hard in the back.

‍

Saturday

A settler from the outpost near Ras Ein al-‘Auja arrived in the morning wrapped in a prayer shawl (tallit), leading a flock directly into the Salameh family courtyards. In the afternoon there was a violent attack on activists attempting to prevent settlers from entering the residential compounds of the Salameh and Abu Taleb families. One guest of the outpost punched an activist in the face and fled. His companions remained in the Abu Taleb compound. One youth pinched a female activist so hard that he left a blue bruise on her arm.