Agrarian crisis and threats to farming in the Hebron area

In the "Jabal Sabaa" area, located north of Hebron in the West Bank, farmers report systematic damage inflicted on their lands by settlers. According to Tiba al-Sabaa, who is engaged in viticulture, sheep are periodically released into the fields, trampling and destroying the crops. Such a situation forces landowners to stay on their plots constantly to guard them.

Difficulties also arise in the farm of Anwar Sabarneh, who owns vineyards in the immediate vicinity of his home. Due to incidents with settlers, the farmer has been forced to stop grazing sheep, keeping them in pens for over eight months as he fears the theft of his livestock animals. It is also reported that, in a number of cases, family members of farmers have been detained by the Israeli military while attempting to retrieve stolen livestock.

According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, in the first half of 2026, 11,074 incidents involving settlers and Israeli troops were recorded in the West Bank, of which 3,488 cases were attributed directly to settlers. Hassan Breijieh, an expert with the commission, notes that the expansion of settlements and movement restrictions seriously hinder access to orchards and vineyards.

At present, many landowners are facing the impossibility of carrying out seasonal work. In particular, for the fourth consecutive season, farmers have been unable to harvest olives, grapes, and guavas, and fields remain uncultivated due to the forced abandonment of the plots. The construction of Israeli bypass roads and the installation of military checkpoints at the entrances to communities further impede logistics and the normal functioning of the farms.