Aqraba, a fate on hold

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

All those structures are situated on the outskirts of the township, in a valley known as Khirbit Al Taweel, which is located in an Area C, under direct Israeli control and administration. The rest of the village of Aqraba is located in an Area B, under Israeli control but Palestinian administration. Khirbit Al Taweel is famous for it’s excellent grazing areas and many of it’s inhabitants depend on their livestock, mostly sheep, as the main source of livelihood.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Maher Anas is a farmer and shepherd living in Khirbit Al Taweel, he’s among the people who received an evacuation order and might very soon lose his home and his land, which he inherited from his grandfather decades ago.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Mazin and Malik, Maher’s nephews, also live in Khirbit Al Taweel and might lose their home.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Some of the houses the Israeli military plans to destroy.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

The mosque the Israeli military plans to destroy.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

This school, that has been just recently built for the people of Khirbit Al Taweel, will remain unused if the houses are destroyed. Some people in the village say that the school might also be destroyed with the rest of the structures, even if it’s located in an Area B.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Sammer Anas’ grandfather leaved in Khirbit Al Taweel but, as it’s the case for most of the villagers, the Israeli soldiers have stolen all his land there and Sammer now lives upper in the village, closer to it’s center.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

In response to the demolition orders and to draw attention to the recent rise in home evictions and demolitions orders throughout Palestine the Aqraba municipality, the Agricultural Popular Committees and the Local Council for Popular Resistance organized a festival on popular resistance to Israeli occupation in the local high school on Friday, the 27th of March.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

The festival attracted more than 300 Palestinians and a dozen of international peace activists.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

The mayor of Aqraba and other local authorities were present.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Nasser al-Ghawi, a resident of Shiekh Jarrah, a neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem facing mass evictions, spoke about the shared struggle Palestinian communities face under Israeli occupation policies.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

Local children sung, performed dabkeh, the traditional dance, and acted in a stage play showing the violence of the Israeli soldiers towards the Palestinians.

Picture: Lazar Simeonov

The villagers planted several olive trees, symbols of peace, next to the mosque that Israel wants to destroy.