Season:
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2022-2023
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Governorate:
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Hebron
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Locality:
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Yatta
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Address:
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Ar-Rifa'iyya
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Aida Yousef Ea'mar, is a 51 years old Palestinian farmer, who owns land in Al-Refaaiya, within Yatta. Aida is a Palestinian housewife who looks after her children. Olive trees hold immense importance for Aida as it helps preserve her cultural heritage and promotes economic sustainability while contributing to environmental protection by preventing soil erosion and mitigating the effects of climate change. Additionally, women's participation in agriculture empowers them and promotes gender equality. Through the Olive Tree Campaign, Aida was granted 50 olive trees which hold significant meaning for her. Planting these trees strengthens her connection to the land and helps her remain resilient in the face of ongoing land disputes with Israeli settlers. Ultimately, it serves as a way to safeguard her land and prevent further encroachment upon it.
Yatta is a town located in the Hebron Governorate of the southern West Bank with a population of around 45,424 people, covering an area of 270,000 dunums (66,718 acres). However, only a portion of this land is currently used for agriculture due to several challenges such as a lack of water and capital, insufficient pastures, and the unfeasibility of agriculture activities in some areas. The growth of the agriculture sector is further hindered by marketing challenges and a lack of development programs. The Israeli colonies (settlements) of "Susya", "Ma'on", "Carmel", and "Karmei Tzur" are located near Yatta, and they were all established in the 1980s on lands that were confiscated from Palestinian villages. Yatta, like the rest of the West Bank, has been occupied by Israel, and the presence of Israeli colonies (settlements) in the area has been a source of conflict.
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