Hebron: Settler attacks and financial crisis plague Eid al-Adha season

Just a few days before the blessed Eid al-Adha, an unprecedented state of stagnation hangs over the sheep market in Hebron, south of the West Bank. Commercial activity has significantly declined in one of the most important livestock markets, where traders spend long hours waiting for a few customers, a scene that reflects the depth of the economic crisis hitting the Palestinian territories.

Inside the market, hundreds of sheep stand in pens without buyers, while traders struggle to complete limited deals amidst complaints of insane price hikes. Observers believe that this season is one of the most difficult the sector has faced in many years, due to the intertwining political, field, and economic factors.

Traders' testimonies indicate that prices have doubled significantly, with the price of a kilogram of lamb jumping from five dinars in past years to more than ten and a half dinars currently. This increase has made the cost of a single sacrificial animal reach about 700 Jordanian dinars, an amount that exceeds the financial capacity of the majority of Palestinian families.

The financial crisis plaguing the Palestinian Authority has cast a heavy shadow over the market, especially with the irregular payment of government employees' salaries and accumulating debts. Sources reported that the decline in purchasing power has made citizens prioritize basic living necessities over the ritual of sacrifice, which has become very expensive under the current circumstances.

In addition to the financial crisis, settler attacks stand out as a major factor in destroying the livestock sector, especially in the Bedouin areas and Masafer Yatta. Sheep herders are subjected to almost daily attacks, including livestock theft and physical assault, leading to a severe shortage in supply and increased production and breeding costs.

In an incident that occurred on Thursday dawn, groups of settlers stole a flock of about 50 sheep after infiltrating a Palestinian residence in Masafer Yatta. These systematic thefts aim to pressure Palestinian herders and force them to leave their lands, which directly impacts the stability of meat prices in local markets.

Trader Mohammed Ahmed Al-Labib, who has been in this profession for five decades, described the current situation as "almost halted," noting a decline in his sales from 50 sheep in previous seasons to only 5 this year. Al-Labib sadly wondered how people could afford to buy sacrificial animals when they are struggling to secure daily sustenance amidst a lack of job opportunities.

Official data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics indicates an alarming rise in unemployment rates in the West Bank, reaching 28%. This economic deterioration resulted from the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip and the tightening of Israeli military restrictions, which led to thousands of workers losing their jobs inside the Green Line and in local sectors.

Livestock breeders in Area C face double challenges, as they are prevented from accessing natural pastures under threat of arms from settlers and occupation forces. This field siege forces breeders to buy fodder at high prices, which raises the final cost for the Palestinian consumer who is already suffering from financial hardship.

In a related context, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented more than 1600 attacks carried out by settlers in April alone, including property damage and livestock theft. These attacks are often carried out under the protection of the occupation army and directly target the backbone of the pastoral economy in rural Hebron and the West Bank.

Trader Riyad Al-Jabarin, who lives in Masafer Yatta, confirmed that purchasing demand does not exceed 20% compared to previous years, attributing this to the lack of cash liquidity among citizens. He explained that an employee who receives a small portion of his salary cannot allocate a large sum to buy a sacrificial animal given other living commitments.

The Palestinian Authority has been suffering from a suffocating financial crisis since 2019, which has sharply worsened this year due to Israel's withholding of clearance funds. Unpaid dues and the financial deficit reached about $4.26 billion, rendering the government unable to meet its obligations to employees, suppliers, and vital sectors.

Farmers complain about the lack of sufficient governmental and institutional support to cope with their losses resulting from settler attacks, as the breeder finds himself alone in facing systematic theft and killing of his livestock. This lack of support reinforces the state of frustration and pushes some to abandon the profession of livestock breeding they inherited from their fathers.

In conclusion, it seems that this year's Eid al-Adha will lack many of its usual manifestations in Hebron, as economic and security concerns overshadow the festive atmosphere. The Palestinian trader and citizen remain in a constant struggle between preserving religious rituals and a bitter living reality imposed by occupation policies and settler attacks.

People have no money, and some cannot find food and drink, so how will they buy sacrificial animals under these harsh conditions?