Gaza: As Israeli construction machinery continues to clear land near the Palestinian village of Bardala in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian farmers like Khalid Sawafta are confronting imminent eviction orders from Israeli authorities. Sawafta, who has received a notice to vacate his land by December 4, fears losing everything as Israeli forces intensify efforts to expand settlements in the region.
This marks the latest in a string of evictions that have displaced hundreds of Palestinian families in the West Bank. According to the United Nations, such expulsions are a frequent occurrence, and activist groups like Peace Now report that over 200 families have been forced off their land in the past year alone. This surge in evictions comes amid Israeli government approval for thousands of new settlement units, a move that many see as part of an effort to cement control over the region.
The potential appointment of Mike Huckabee as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel has heightened concerns among Palestinians, particularly in light of Huckabee’s strong pro-settlement views. Huckabee, who has called the West Bank “Judea and Samaria” and denied the existence of an occupation, is seen by many as a supporter of aggressive settlement expansion, which could further escalate displacement in the area.
Israeli settler leaders, including Yishai Fleisher, expect Huckabee to be even more influential than former Ambassador David Friedman, particularly in appealing to evangelical Christian supporters of Israel. However, some Israeli officials, like diplomat Alon Pinkas, caution that unilateral annexation of large parts of the West Bank could destabilize relations with Arab countries and undermine broader regional stability.
Meanwhile, in Bardala, the construction of a new security barrier is poised to isolate local residents from their agricultural lands, a tactic that local leaders like Ibrahim Sawafta believe is intended to displace them from the area. The move has sparked protests from Palestinian villagers, who claim to hold legal title to the land, with some residents recalling previous evictions, such as the one endured by Khalid Sawafta seven years ago, when his property was demolished.
As political uncertainty looms with the incoming U.S. administration, Palestinians in the West Bank, particularly in communities like Bardala, continue to face the harsh reality of ongoing displacement, with their hopes for a future Palestinian state growing more distant by the day.