Impact Of The Israeli Settlements On The Environment In Salfeet District

      The Palestinian areas are facing the most dangerous process of settlements which leads always to confiscation of lands and the construction of many settlements ( agriculture , residential   , industrial and military ) . Therefore the placement of these settlements , in sensible areas from the ( cultural , environmental and natural ) view , is  the start of the real difficulties , this is caused by the pollution to the Palestinian environment created by those settlements and on all levels .

      Palestine is distinct in its beauty , while it have green areas , special topography from Mounties , to vallies , and forest live , which also have many animals and trees , which are living in a very nice natural system .

      The Palestinian nature is  important source of life for the Palestinian peoples , but the Israelis didn’t save any efforts to try damaging this beautiful nature , polluting in such away the Palestinian environment .

      Salfeet district is a beautiful peace in Palestine , with its nature , water sources , green spaces , cultivated areas , this area faced a lot of damages caused by the Israelis , but it succeeded to save up to now its beauty and nature .

      The district of Salfeet reaches around 217 KM2 , which nearly have 80000 inhabitants , distributed on 20 ( towns & Villages ) , big part of the inhabitants are working in agriculture , other parts are working in commerce and industry , the unemployment rate is very high , this is caused by the continuous closures and difficulties created by the Israeli's In addition the confiscation of lands and cutting of trees for what is called the enemy preventive wall , created many difficulties for the farmers and their sources of live .

      The number of settlements in salfeet district is 17 settlements , these settlements are residential such as Ariel , industrial such as Bargan and agricultural , these settlement contributed well in damaging the Palestinian lands and the Palestinian environment , in addition to the water resources .

      The waste from these settlements are creating a big pollution to the environment , agriculture , water , and life in Salfeet district . All kind of wastes ( liquid , solid , and gas ) are damaging a lot of the environmental sector , and specially the industrial waste , which started to kill the agricultural land and to pollute the water and air .

wastewater of Ariel settlement

      These wastes are discharged in the Palestinian lands without any treatments , such as the wastewater from Bargan and Ariel , which is discharged on the Al- Matwi vally , polluting in such a way the main source of drinking water for Salfeet and some nearby villages , the non-treated wastewater , contain many polluter factors specially the heavy metals , which is very harmful to all kind of live in this area .

      In addition the solid waste is also shifted to the Palestinian lands from the nearby settlements , these wastes are also so harmful while its dissolved with the rainfall water and penetrated to the lands , polluting in such a way   the water resources and killing the agricultural lands .

      The waste coming from the industrial factories and laboratories are polluting the air and so far creating many hazards to the Palestinian peoples and to all kind of life .

      Some of the dangerous acts , is the dumping of dangerous industrial wastes in the Palestinian lands , without caring of the results .one example is the industrial waste from Bargan , which is dumped  in Deir baloot area . This enemy action created many problems to the inhabitants in this area , and according to the ministry of health statistics a round 70 % from affected peoples with cancer in Salfeet district are from Deir Baloot Area .

      It is  so clear in Salfeet district , the impact of these settlements , and the Apartheid wall on all kind of life , cutting of thousands of trees from different kinds , limiting in such a way the external animal life , and leaded for a big deterioration to the natural balance , some of known animals and plants are not existing now , subject which could lead to affect the historical aspects of the Palestinian natures .

    cutting of thousands of olive trees because of the Apartheid wall

      The Apartheid wall it self , cutting Salfeet district in many pieces without possibility of continuity , leaded actually to a difficult financial impact . The unemployment is very high and more than 6500 jobs are lost  . The olive oil production is decreased nearly to 2200 ton , caused by the olive trees cutting .More than 50 ton of fruit trees are damaged and more than 10000 of animals are lost , caused by the limited places for animals .

      These aspects are just some of the Israeli enemy attack to the Palestinian life and environment .And its so clear that nothing is save being lands , environment, air , water , trees , animals ,….