Bedouin communities west of Jericho face relentless assaults from Israeli settlers and the army, aimed at forcing them from their land. Daily attacks include land confiscation, destruction of property, and physical violence, as documented by human rights organizations.

In 2024, the Bider organization recorded 272 violations against Bedouin communities, while settlers committed 2,971 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in deaths and widespread destruction. Analysts warn that Israel’s goal is to sever central Palestine from its eastern regions, enabling large-scale settlement expansion connected by a railway.

Human rights activist Fares Al-Fuqha stresses that the resilience of Bedouin communities remains the key obstacle to these plans. The Ma’leh Bedouin community, near Ma’arajat Road, faces constant settler harassment due to its strategic location. Its removal would clear the way for Israeli settlement projects backed by extremist officials like Bezalel Smotrich.

With 770,000 settlers now living in 180 settlements and 256 outposts, Israel continues to push its expansion agenda. Smotrich has vowed that 2025 will mark the full imposition of Israeli “sovereignty” over the West Bank. Yet, Bedouin communities persist, standing as the last defence against Israel’s plans to reshape Palestine’s geography.