DaysofPal – Palestinian farmers from the Al-Janazra family in the town of Halhul, north of Al-Khalil (Hebron), say a year’s worth of work was destroyed just days before harvest after Israeli settlers vandalized their vineyard, spoiling nearly four tons of grapes.
The attack took place in the Wadi Qaboun area, where settlers destroyed around 4,000 kilograms of grapes, dealing what the family described as a catastrophic financial blow.
Farmer Riyad Al-Janazra said that his family maintains an almost constant presence at the vineyard because of its proximity to an Israeli settlement outpost and the repeated threats and attacks they face.
The targeted vineyard covers about 2.5 dunams. Al-Janazra said part of the land had previously been cut in two by a settlement road, but the family continued cultivating it despite the challenges.
He said the vineyard is the primary source of income for around 50 family members and that the destruction of the crop, just before it was due to be harvested, wiped out months of labor and left the family facing significant financial losses.
His son, Yousef Al-Janazra, said Israeli settlers cause near-daily problems for farmers in the area, adding that the latest attack came after the family had spent an entire year caring for the crop.
“We will never abandon our land, no matter how great the pressure becomes,” he said.
Another family member, farmer Raafat Al-Janazra, said Wadi Qaboun is known for producing high-quality grapes. He added that previous attacks had included cutting irrigation pipelines and damaging water tanks used to supply the vineyards.
He said the repeated attacks are part of efforts to force Palestinian farmers off their land and seize agricultural areas, but insisted that local residents would continue to cultivate and protect their property.
The incident is the latest in a series of reported settler attacks targeting Palestinian farmers across the occupied West Bank. Such attacks have included uprooting trees, burning crops, stealing produce, damaging irrigation infrastructure, physically assaulting farmers, and preventing them from accessing their land, particularly in areas near Israeli settlements and outposts.
Al-Khalil governorate has been among the areas most frequently affected by such attacks, especially during the annual grape harvest, one of the region’s most important agricultural seasons and a key source of income for dozens of Palestinian families.
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