Image by Abonoon
“The people of Ni’lin have had three Nakbas, the first was in 1948; the second was in 1967, with the bypass roads and the settlements; and then we have now, with the Wall and the tunnel. We are losing our olive trees in the third Nakba.”
The Nakba of Ni’lin
Land-owners Losing Their Olive Trees to the Wall
The village of Ni’lin has been greatly affected by the construction of the Wall since its commencement on May 20th. Portions of the Wall near the village were built on the Green Line, but not in Ni’lin, which is bordered to the southwest by the settlements of Hashmon’im, Modi’in Illit, and Mattityahu. Israeli authorities claim that the Wall is being built as security for these three settlements. Not only will the Wall impede easy movement to schools and workplaces in neighboring areas, but it will also destroy approximately five thousand olive trees. “How does this olive tree threaten the security of Israel?” exclaimed land-owner Asad Amera, pointing to a small tree on his property.
- Asad Amera.
- Photo: Palestine Monitor
- Asad lost thirty-eight of his one hundred and twenty olive trees in two days, and will lose eight of his twenty-five dunums of land to the Wall. This devastating loss came not long after he spent almost 27,000 NIS to put a well on his land. Some land-owners are losing much more. The entire village of Ni’lin will collectively lose 2,700 dunums to the Wall, along with another two hundred dunums to a tunnel that is currently being built in order to connect settlements to Israel. The Israeli military has stated that gates will be provided so that farmers will be able to access their land once the Wall has been completed. This same promise has been offered before, to other villages cut off by the Wall, but these agricultural gates are only opened three times a day for about twenty minutes. Farmers are forced to acquire a permit in order to gain admittance their land, but this does not automatically guarantee entry. Each permit contains a specific gate number, and some farmers are given the incorrect number on their permit. Ultimately, the decision to let people through rests with the soldiers, whether or not the accurate documentation is given.
The fruit and oil of olive trees provide a profitable market worldwide. Asad once sold oil to much of the area surrounding Ni’lin, but as his trees are continually uprooted, he will have to resort to buying it from others. However, his family of eleven depends on the land, not only for income, but for food. Asad will lose a source of money and food as his land is confiscated.
“We have stones and a few streets,” he said. “That is all they are leaving us.”
Despite this, Asad has not thought of leaving. “Our resistance is staying here on our land. We respect peace, a fair peace, but not a peace that cuts down olive trees and takes more land. I am staying here as a nail in their eye, taking care of my land.”
Ibrahim Abdelhaq Amera, who is from the same family as Asad, lives in a dilapidated house built during the British Mandate. Ibrahim is forced to share the dark, cave-like room with his animals. Reclining on a rug on the floor, his knees wrapped around a basket he is weaving for olives, Ibrahim said that all of his family’s land will be taken. Sixty-five dunums have already been lost, and one hundred and twenty-five more will eventually be confiscated. Almost four hundred olive trees grow on Ibrahim’s land, two hundred of which he planted with his own hands.
- Ibrahim Abdelhaq Amera weaves a basket for his olives.
- Photo: Palestine Monitor
Ibrahim paid lawyers approximately 37,000 NIS in order to obtain a court ruling to protect his land. But, like many, even though he was successful in court, he will still lose his land. A day after the ruling, he took the documents to a group of soldiers, informing them that his land was not to be touched. However, the soldiers told him that his documentation, which he had received the day before, was suddenly no longer valid and that, if he wanted to save his land, he would have to go to court again. However, Ibrahim no longer has any money, having spent it all to go to court the first time.
- Asad Amera walks through the olive trees on his land.
- Photo: Palestine Monitor
“The people of Ni’lin have had three Nakbas,” explained Asad Amera as he walked across his fading land. “The first was in 1948; the second was in 1967, with the bypass roads and the settlements; and then we have now, with the Wall and the tunnel. We are losing our olive trees in the third Nakba.”
