Israeli settlers today chased down Palestinian sheep herders and international supporters away from their pastures in the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank, according Aref Daraghmeh, a local activist.
He said the settlers forced the sheep herders to leave the area and assaulted some of the international supporters who were accompanying them in solidarity.
Israeli settlers are known for their attacks on Palestinians, but assaults on Palestinian farmers and herders have been frequent over the past few weeks, since the Trump administration announced that the U.S. would support Israel’s illegal attempts to annex the Jordan Valley.
Armed settlers and soldiers often prevent Palestinian shepherds from herding in the open pastures of the occupied West Bank in order to force them to abandon the area. This would make space for the Israeli settlers to further colonize this area, which belongs to Palestinian landowners, but which is coveted by Israeli colonizers.
