Skip to main content

Op-Ed Decries "Systematic Displacement" in Palestinian Jordan Valley Amid Tightening Israeli Control

An opinion piece by Dr. Dalal Saeb Erakat outlines what it describes as an intensifying Israeli campaign to control and empty the Palestinian Jordan Valley, framing it as a core part of a "Zionist colonial project." The article argues that this strategically vital and fertile region, historically Palestine's "food basket," is being systematically transformed into a closed military zone through checkpoints, settlement expansion, and restrictions designed to displace its indigenous population.

Stretching along the eastern edge of the West Bank from north of Jenin to south of Jericho, the Jordan Valley is portrayed as under an "iron grip." Dr. Erakat highlights the role of military checkpoints, specifically naming Tayasir and Hamra as key instruments of control and daily humiliation. The Tayasir checkpoint, the article states, operates under severely restricted hours (4:00-8:00 AM and 12:00-6:00 PM) with a limit of only 20 vehicles allowed passage per day, forcing farmers, students, and patients into long waits. The Hamra checkpoint, at the entrance to the northern Valley, is described as particularly repressive, arbitrarily denying passage to Palestinians while allowing settlers free movement, effectively isolating Palestinians from their land and reinforcing what the author terms an "apartheid" reality.

The piece details a recent, unprecedented escalation of activities by Israeli settlers and the military, particularly in the northern Valley. These include the construction of new settlement outposts in areas like Al-Maleh and Bedouin communities, leading to family displacement; the establishment of an outpost near Bardala village accompanied by daily attacks on residents; a tightened siege on Kardala preventing farmers' access to their land; the seizure of "Al-Deir" lands in Ein al-Beida, with springs converted into tourist parks for settlers; and the confiscation of essential infrastructure like water pumps and solar panels, alongside direct assaults on farmers.

Dr. Erakat argues that these actions are not random but are integral to a broader, strategic Israeli "colonial settlement project" aimed at displacement. The goal, according to the op-ed, is to confiscate Palestinian land, dismantle the Palestinian socio-economic fabric, and impose absolute control over resources and territory. This is achieved progressively through settlement construction, bypass roads, military orders confiscating land, and preventing Palestinian natural growth and construction. Settlements, the author contends, are not mere "population expansion" but a colonial tool to alter the land's character, create irreversible facts on the ground, and facilitate de facto annexation in violation of international law and UN resolutions.

The article notes that even the ancient city of Jericho is now besieged, and its entrances are frequently closed, restricting the movement of residents and visitors.

In conclusion, Dr. Erakat asserts that the events unfolding in the Jordan Valley are not temporary security measures or isolated violence but a deliberate "replacement project" executed by an extremist right-wing government. This project, she argues, aims to empty the land of its Palestinian inhabitants to expand settlements and assert Israeli sovereignty. The Jordan Valley is presented as a crucial front in the confrontation against this colonial endeavor. Defending the Valley, the author concludes, is synonymous with defending fundamental Palestinian rights to land, sovereignty, and dignity – a national and moral imperative.

Popular posts from this blog

Sovereignty as Spectacle: Turkish Cypriot Researcher Critiques Grand Opening of the Northern Cyprus New "Republican Campus"

On Saturday, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is not recognized internationally, officially launched its new "Republican Campus." The first construction phase features the new Presidential Building and Parliament Building, inaugurated during a grand ceremony attended by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Dubbed by critics as a "show of sovereignty," the event, alongside the concurrent Teknofest technology festival, has drawn criticism from Turkish Cypriot researcher-writer Mete Hatay for its political undertones and symbolic messaging. Hatay, a noted peace researcher affiliated with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), argues that the openings were not merely about inaugurating buildings but about constructing symbols of dominance under the guise of sovereignty. Hatay describes the events as meticulously staged platforms for political agendas. "Today in Northern Cyprus, it wasn't just buildings that were opened; symbols w...

Cyprus Archbishop's Easter Message Lost in Translation, Sparking Controversy

A mistranslation of Cyprus' Orthodox Archbishop Georgios' Easter message has ignited a new wave of tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the divided island. Turkish Cypriot media outlets reported that the Archbishop called for "expelling the Turks and saving the homeland," prompting swift condemnation from Turkish Cypriot political figures, including opposition leader Tufan Erhürman. According to Kıbrıs Postası 's bulletin published on April 20, 2025, Archbishop Georgios issued an Easter message urging "Greece, Southern Cyprus, and all Hellenism to make a coordinated effort to expel the Turks and save the homeland." The report further claimed the Archbishop stated there was "no possibility of making any more concessions" in the current situation. In response, Tufan Erhürman , leader of the social democrat Republican Turkish Party (CTP), issued a strongly-worded statement criticizing what he called "discriminatory and pr...

Is Turkey's New Rising Political Star's Future in Danger?

In a development that could dramatically alter Turkey's political landscape, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential ambitions face a serious challenge as pro-government sources report his university diploma may soon be invalidated. According to prominent pro-government journalist Abdulkadir Selvi, Istanbul University is expected to complete a report today that could lead to the cancellation of Imamoglu's diploma, effectively disqualifying him from running for president of Turkey. Critical Findings in University Investigation The investigation centers around allegations that Imamoglu's lateral transfer from American University of Kyrenia to Istanbul University violated educational regulations. The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has already issued a report claiming that American University of Kyrenia was not recognized by YÖK at the time Imamoglu made his transfer. "Istanbul University's investigation has been completed, and the...