The absurdity of the above picture belies the pastoral scene it depicts: Blue skies and a large herd of cows grazing in a field. However the field is an active minefield belonging to the IDF in the Northern Jordan Valley, not far from the border fence.
The Regavim movement, which monitors and pursues legal action in the Israeli court system against use of land, such as construction lacking Israeli permits and undertaken by Palestinians or Bedouins in Israel, documented the unusual sight but stated that it is not an isolated event.
In the clip released by the organization it is not possible to see where the shepherd directing the cows is standing but it is obvious that the barbed wire fence surrounding the minefield has been removed and uprooted over a long area of the field, which indicates an intentional encroachment on the minefield.
Over the past few years there have been a number of severe injuries and even deaths of people entering minefields in the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley. The minefields are officially closed to civilian entry and are also clearly marked in accordance with the laws of warfare.
Regavim addressed Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and the head of the Civil Administration Ahvat Ben-Hur and warned them about agricultural work being performed by Palestinians in the aforementioned minefield. The Palestinians used a combine harvester to harvest grain sown at the beginning of the winter, demonstrating that they entered the minefield repeatedly.
Regavim say that this phenomenon indicates a guiding hand. "Lately, radical left-wing organizations have increased their activities in the Jordan Valley," said Ovad Arad, a Regavim field worker. "No sane person would bet on his life and enter an active minefield. However there are irresponsible people who encourage local Arabs to work the fields and construct tents in IDF firing zones. The goal of this is to seize lands and maintain a presence. Whoever is encouraging Arabs to enter actives minefields does not mean to do them good and is exploiting them for political goals."