Theft of Palestinian Flocks in Judea and Samaria Is Intended to Collapse Palestinians Communities

“There is suspicion against the defendant for offenses of theft and assault. However, as the court previously determined in the last hearing, the theft charge has neither been proven nor does it constitute grounds for detention. As for the assault, there is no evidence beyond the testimony of the ‘victim.’ It should be noted that his testimony, as well as the ‘identification’ he made of his alleged attackers, is of low credibility and is not supported by any additional evidence,"

These were the opening statement of a decision written by Judge of the Judea Military Court on June 26, 2024. And who is this so-called ‘victim’ whose flock was allegedly “stolen,” leading to the wrongful arrest of a Palestinian shepherd from Ras al-Ein in the Jericho Valley? It is none other than Zohar Sabah, who established an illegal outpost near two Palestinian shepherding communities. It was only the presence of "Looking the Occupation in the Eye" (Mistaclim) activists in the area—who documented the incident—that ultimately led to the shepherd’s release from detention.

The same happened on Friday night, March 8, 2025. Late in the evening—an unusual hour for grazing—Zohar Sabah arrived with his flock near the sheep enclosures of the Palestinian shepherds in Ras al-Ein. Shortly afterward, dozens of settlers, armed with weapons and clubs, raided the sheep pens of several families in Ras al-Ein, opened the gates, and drove away more than 1,000 sheep. At the same time, Zohar Sabah filed a complaint, claiming that his flock had been stolen.

The immediate appearance of dozens of settlers indicates that this was a planned and organized operation. The officers of the District Police did not lift a finger to prevent the theft, despite reports from activists of “Looking the Occupation in the Eye” who were present in the area. The police did not remain idle and arrested the Palestinian herd owner on suspicion of “theft,” even though the circumstances on the ground indicated the opposite. On the Haaretz website, it was written: “The police announced this evening that they had arrested a Palestinian who stole 50 sheep from the outpost ‘Zohar Sabah’s Farm’ and claimed that he had admitted to the acts".

The method of false complaints succeeds thanks to the cooperation of the security forces. The police accept as proven fact any version presented by the settlers. This was stated by the police spokesperson to Haaretz following the incident in Ras al-Ein: “Police forces from the Binyamin station and IDF forces from the Jordan Valley and Valleys Brigade began searches to locate the herd (which was allegedly stolen – as noted by the website’s editorial team). The forces arrived near the Palestinian village of Auja, where they located the stolen herd. A Palestinian adult suspect was found at the scene upon the arrival of the forces. He attempted to flee but after a foot chase, was caught and arrested. The herd was returned to its owner by the forces.” The only factual element in the police’s version is that a Palestinian was arrested. Another fact is that after two nights in detention, the suspect was brought before the military court on Sunday, which—in a rather unusual move—released the herd owner on bail of 1,000 Shekels.

The same applies to the army, which fails to fulfill its duty under international law to protect the residents of the occupied territory. Even when the military responds to calls from human rights activists following settler harassment of local residents, soldiers remain indifferent at best.

The YNET website reported last week a 30% rise in violence against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. The article presents a troubling picture of rising violence incidents involving IDF soldiers. According to senior military sources, law enforcement is only partially applied. "Action is only taken when there is video documentation of an event, in the army they are  worried about legal repercussions abroad," said the military source. According to him, "this too is done with low intensity and laziness, and in a way that usually ends after long months without real punishment. If it is 'just' a complaint from a Palestinian, there is no chance that the police will open an investigation."

Additionally, it is claimed that the Israeli police rarely take action against nationalist crimes committed by settlers, and that under Minister Itamar Ben Gvir It has completely ceased." The source added that "in the army, in cases where there is no photography, they act in a similar way and heap enormous difficulties on the residents so that they cannot report in time and file complaints, and so that cases of abuse against them or their property are not really addressed".

Back in Ras al-Ein, that same night, through police mediation (!), Zohar Sabah returned 22 sheep to the Palestinians, explaining that they had “accidentally wound up at his outpost.” This time, the owners of the stolen flocks decided to file a police complaint. They showed up at Binyamin station on Sunday, waited outside all day, and were finally sent home with the excuse that there was no Arabic-speaking investigator available—even though protocol requires one to be on duty daily. They returned on Monday only to endure more hours of waiting “because the investigator was busy.” After several hours, one of the flock owners was allowed to give a statement, while the rest were told not to bother filing a complaint “since they’d all be identical anyway.”

On the "SiKha Mekomit" (Local Call) website, Michal Briar describes the method in a few sentences: "They enter the heart of the village with a flock, claim that the Palestinians stole sheep, and then begin to 'return the stolen property,' meaning to go through the families' pens and empty them of the sheep. The settlers quickly led the flocks far to the west, leaving behind slaughtered goats that could not walk fast enough.

"Theft of herds is not just theft of property; it means the collapse of the entire community, for which herding is the center of life and also its main source of livelihood. This, of course, is precisely the goal. Since the beginning of the war, many communities have been forced to flee for their lives due to fear of the violence perpetrated by the settlers living in the outposts, and due to the inability of the residents of the communities and the flock to survive under the terror they are wreaking on the territory."