High Court petition demands protection for West Bank Palestinian herding communities

A high-profile legal challenge has been brought before Israel’s High Court of Justice, seeking urgent protection for seven Palestinian herding communities in the northern Jordan Valley. These communities—al-Hama, al-Farisiyah, Ein al-Hilweh, Samra, al-Hadidiyah, Khirbet Humsa, and Khallet Makhul—are accusing Israeli authorities of complicity in their persecution through policies that allegedly facilitate settler aggression and systemic displacement. The petition was submitted by representatives of these communities alongside the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), which argues that the situation constitutes a form of ethnic cleansing. The High Court ordered several Israeli institutions—including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Civil Administration within the Defense Ministry, and the police—to respond to the petition by August 6. The request follows mounting pressure on the communities over recent years, with residents claiming that both radical settlers and Israeli military and administrative bodies have created conditions making life in the area increasingly untenable. According to the petition, the seven villages represent the last remaining Palestinian herding communities in Area C of the Jordan Valley, where Israel holds full civilian and security authority. ACRI detailed in its submission that eleven herding communities in the northern Jordan Valley had been depopulated between 2025 and 2026. It emphasized that the seven communities currently petitioning have existed for decades and should thus be safeguarded from displacement, despite lacking formal zoning or construction permits. The organization highlighted the growing threat to these communities, stating that they face imminent risk of being uprooted due to sustained harassment and state-sanctioned pressures. Reut Shaer, one of the individuals who filed the petition, described the situation in the northern Jordan Valley as part of a deliberate and coordinated policy aimed at eradicating Palestinian presence in the region. She accused Israeli authorities of facilitating this process through actions that enable the expansion of illegal settler outposts and the orchestration of violent tactics against local populations. B’tselem, an Israeli human rights group, reported that approximately 4,200 Palestinians from 62 communities in Areas C and B of the West Bank have been forcibly displaced since the outbreak of conflict following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. This displacement has been attributed largely to settler violence and state-sponsored harassment. Additionally, another 15 communities have experienced partial uprooting, further illustrating the scale of the issue. In the past decade, 16 illegal settlement outposts have been constructed in the northern Jordan Valley, with three new ones established in the last six months alone. ACRI noted that these outposts contribute significantly to the pressure on Palestinian communities, though they did not account for informal encampments erected specifically to target particular homes, which are typically dismantled once the intended displacement is achieved. Recent reports indicate that the current Israeli government has intensified financial and logistical support for these illegal settlements. This includes funding for security equipment, subsidies for volunteer labor, and assistance in acquiring livestock. Furthermore, allegations have surfaced suggesting that the IDF collaborates with local settler authorities in establishing these unauthorized outposts. A senior officer from the IDF Central Command reportedly confirmed these claims, adding weight to the accusations. Political figures such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have publicly endorsed the creation of illegal outposts as a means to assert control over West Bank territories at the expense of Palestinian residents. Settler municipal leaders have also admitted to coordinating the establishment of such outposts, reinforcing the perception that these actions are not merely incidental but part of a broader strategy. The petition lodged with the High Court seeks to hold the Israeli government accountable for its role in enabling the harassment of these communities. It highlights the failure of Israeli institutions to address incidents of extremist violence and the lack of effective measures to protect vulnerable populations. As the case moves forward, the responses from the IDF, Civil Administration, and other relevant entities will be crucial in determining whether the court will intervene to halt the ongoing displacement and ensure the safety of the affected communities.