"Eye for an Eye" and Ras al-Ein: Settlement Encircles Qusra from the Mountain to the Homes

The article discusses the expansion of settlements in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, where the "Ein Aina" mountain and the Ras al-Ein area are transforming from outposts into tools for besieging homes and residents, with settlers controlling water springs and closing roads, threatening the existence of Palestinians in the region.

The article discusses the expansion of settlements in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, where the "Ein Aina" mountain and the Ras al-Ein area are transforming from outposts into tools for besieging homes and residents. In January, settlers set up tents on the mountain peak, which is about 950 meters high and overlooks vast areas of villages and agricultural lands. The targeting then moved to the Ras al-Ein area west of the town, where settlers established an outpost near three Palestinian homes, and their presence gradually turned into an actual siege. The occupation forces declared the area a closed military zone, set up barriers and gates, and turned one of the homes into a military post. By September 4, the siege entered its first month, preventing activists and journalists from delivering food, medicine, and water to the besieged families. The mayor of Qusra, Abdul Azim al-Wadi, says that control of the mountain means tightening the noose on the town from its western side, after it became surrounded by settlements and military measures from other directions. During the current year, settlers also took control of the spring on Ras al-Ein mountain, adding a new dimension to the conflict over a site that combines a strategic location, a water source, and agricultural lands. In late August, settlers besieged Palestinians inside a home in Ras al-Ein, coinciding with the arrival of occupation army reinforcements and the outbreak of fires on citizens' lands. Palestinians and two foreign journalists were injured during attacks on August 29. The article is published on the Palestine Online website and is based on Palestinian and international reports.