Israel’s ‘Crimson Thread’ project raises concerns over Palestinian communities in West Bank

Palestinian communities in the West Bank are concerned about a project being developed by Israel under the name ‘Crimson Thread’.

Some Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank are worried about the construction of a new Israeli military barrier in the Jordan Valley, which is impeding movement, separating communities and restricting access to agricultural land and to essential services.

The first phase of ‘Crimson Thread’ is said to be the construction of a military road and trench, some 22km long. The road is likely to separate a number of Palestinian villages from neighbouring farmland.
The project aims to enhance security along the border and to thwart weapons smuggling, Israeli authorities say. But Palestinian residents and human rights organizations say the barrier will hinder or prevent thousands of acres of local farmland from being accessible to Palestinian farmers.

The area changed drastically since roads were closed, said Tayyib Basharat, a local resident. The journey, which used to take a few minutes is now a few hours, he said. Water supplies are also affected, and wells, the irrigation system and agriculture facilities have been damaged, he added, which has had a negative impact on farming.

Israeli human rights activist Dror Atticus claims that the project may adversely affect the building of Israeli settlements and Palestinians’ access to their land. It also highlighted the emergence of land confiscation orders and settler attacks and army activities over the past few years.

In the recent months several Palestinian families had already left their homes due to the current situation in the area, the report alleges.

Palestinian authorities claim 49 military land confiscation orders were issued in the first half of this year compared to 43 in the previous year.
Residents also expressed the concern that if the project does come to fruition, many villages will become more isolated and it will be more difficult for people to access their schools, hospitals, and other critical public services.

Local farmers told Arab media that agricultural production has dropped sharply, the number of livestock has been reduced and that the economy remains in the shambles. They also claimed that Palestinian families abandon the land which is then used by Israeli settlers.

The development follows on the heels of continued international efforts to access and acquire land in the occupied West Bank, where land access and land, settlement and security concerns have long been a sore spot between Israelis and Palestinians.