Season:
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2022-2023
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Governorate:
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Jerusalem
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Locality:
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Biddu
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Address:
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Jabal Al-Sheikh
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Atallah Mahmoud Abu-Eid, aged 55 and a Palestinian farmer resident of Biddu, who has a family of seven and owns 2 dunums (0.5 acres) of agricultural land that is situated 200 meters away from Har Adar Israeli colony (settlement) and the settlers' bypass road. Atallah works as a driver and stated that the Palestinian connection to the land and olive trees goes beyond spiritual and cultural aspects and also includes economic benefits. Many Palestinian families rely on the cultivation of olives as their primary source of income. Olive trees and the land on which they grow are an essential part of the Palestinian economy, providing jobs and economic opportunities for many Palestinians. Atallah expressed gratitude to the Olive Tree Campaign for providing him with 50 olive trees to keep his land safe and protected.
Biddu is a town located in the Jerusalem governorate, northwest of Jerusalem. Its population was 6,129 people in the 2007 census conducted by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The town covers an area of about 5363 dunums (1325 acres), including 2629 dunums (650 acres) of arable land and 685 dunums (170 acres) of residential land. However, the agricultural sector in Biddu faces various challenges, including restrictions on the master plan, lack of funds, limited pastures, gate closures, and farmers being denied access to their land. Additionally, the construction of the apartheid wall has had a severe impact on the town's agriculture. According to the 1995 accords, 24.8% of Biddu's land was classified as Area B, while the remaining 75.2% was classified as Area C. Israel has confiscated approximately 627 dunams (155 acres) of Biddu's land for the Israeli colony (settlement) of Har Adar (Giv'at HaRadar) and 186 dunams (46 acres) for Giv'on Ha'hadasha.
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