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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Usama Kamil Raba'i, is a 30 years old Palestinian farmer, with six family members and owns land in Al-Refaaiya, within Yatta. His land is only three kilometers away from the Israeli colony (settlement) of "Karameil". According to Usama, planting olive trees and tending to the land is essential as it showcases Palestinian culture, connection, and fondness for both the land and the trees. He views olive trees as the ideal embodiment of Palestinians, just as these trees are firmly rooted in the land, so are they. The Olive Tree Campaign facilitated the acquisition of 50 olive trees by Usama, enabling him to maintain his presence on his land.
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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