State of the World from NPR Palestinians see Israel's new West Bank security wall cutting off their farmland
Feb 18, 2026
Emily Feng, an NPR foreign correspondent reporting from the West Bank, shares on-the-ground reporting about planned Israeli barrier construction. She describes how a proposed eastern barrier and existing walls cut off farmland and split villages. Farmers and shepherds recount crop loss, eviction notices, and fears of entrapment as settler violence and access restrictions rise.
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Farmer Loses Harvest Under Settler Pressure
- Mohammed Sawafda watched an entire year of red pepper crops rot because settlers threatened his workers and prevented harvesting.
- He says he established the farm for nearly 30 years and can lose it in a single moment despite owning the land document.
Rising Violence And Land Pressure
- Israel reports a 50% rise in severe settler violence including shootings and arson over the past year.
- Activists say new settlements and a planned eastern barrier aim to push Palestinians off land, not just stop smuggling.
Dual Barriers Redraw Access To Land
- Israel's original west-side barrier already sits mostly on Palestinian land and severs much of the West Bank from Israel.
- The military now plans a 22-kilometer east-side barrier along the fertile Jordan Valley, which activists view as further territorial encroachment.