IDF guards Arab farmers from Kusra near Esh Kodesh (file)
IDF guards Arab farmers from Kusra near Esh Kodesh (file)Nati Shohat/Flash 90

Arab farmers in the Shiloh Bloc of Samaria, where Arab assailants have in the past caused massive damage to Jewish agriculture, prepared to arrive Wednesday to plow adjacent to the Jewish communities of Esh Kodesh and the Yeshuv Hada'at Farms, under the permission of the IDF.

The plowing was given permission by the IDF's Civil Administration which manages Judea and Samaria given that the region has yet to be annexed, and apparently was given after the Arab farmers turned to the High Court claiming ownership to the land.

However, the High Court has yet to discuss the case and there is no evidence backing up the ownership claims - that hasn't stopped extremist leftist groups from influencing decision makers to allow the entrance to farmland adjacent to Jewish houses.

Arab residents of the towns Jaloud and Kusra are to arrive to plow accompanied by members of the radical left, after Jewish residents demonstrated against the move Tuesday night, marching towards the town Migdalim on a path passing not far from Kusra.

There has been high tension between Esh Kodesh and Kusra, after 25 Jews touring the area were nearly murdered back in January. Despite Arab claims that the Jews were in Kusra to commit "price tag" vandalism, it was revealed the Jews were nowhere near the village when a mob of Arabs attacked them.

"People doing 'price tag' don't go in the middle of the day, don't go about without means of defense, and don't do it in a group," argued Attorney Itamar Ben-Gvir at the time.

The lands being opened for Arab farmers to plow on Wednesday are adjacent to Esh Kodesh, Ahiya and Yeshuv Hada'at in Samaria's Binyamin region.

"Defense Minister (Moshe) Ya'alon is using the residents to conduct a cynical political process and try to wink at Likud voters from the leftist side of the map," read an announcement by residents. "It's a shame that the defense minister appointed for the security of the residents brings Arabs in to plow inside the communities, thereby critically harming their security."

The permission for the plowing is made more ironic by the fact that the IDF destroyed 600 fruit trees in Esh Kodesh in January, on the same day just before the clash near Kusra, which many charged was caused by the Arab residents feeling emboldened by the IDF activity. In addition, there have been attempts to frame Esh Kodesh residents of harming Arab agriculture in the region.

Shevah Stern, head of the Likud's "National Headquarters" faction and a candidate in the Likud primaries running for the party's Knesset list, requested that Ya'alon prevent the plowing adjacent to Jewish houses due to the security risk.

"It is unthinkable that something like this should occur," said Stern. "I turn to the defense minister personally from deep familiarity with him and say, Ya'alon, don't let this lethal danger happen. The plowing is under IDF permission, and in your hand (is the ability) to stop the danger. I and all residents of Shiloh Bloc rely on you and ask you not to disregard the matter."

"I hope that a true and long-reaching solution will be reached to deal with the Palestinian requests that an not based on anything, and I will act from within the Knesset to strengthen the security of Judea and Samaria residents in particular, and of all Israel," concluded Stern.