In its latest attempt to intimidate Palestinian farmers, the occupation forces have been confiscating their tractors. Elsewhere in the world this would be an inconvenience, but to farmers in the Jordan Valley, tractors are their lifeline.

On 21st July the occupation forces took the tractor of Khames Jameel Hamed from Furush Beit Dejan, and he had to pay 3712 Israeli Shekels (around £530) to get it back. Then, on the 29th they took a tractor from Bhran Hosan Asmar in Al Hadidiya. On 3rd August, Mahmoud Talep Abed Al Azez from Bardala was levelling some land, where a home had been demolished in Al Farisiya, with his bulldozer, when the occupation forces confiscated the vehicle.

Tractors are often the ONLY form of motorised transport that families have, in an area where public transport is nothing more that a distant dream. At this time of year the heat in the valley is blisteringly hot, and walking any distance would be a real challenge. For communities that have no piped water, they are also used to pull the mobile water tanks that are used to collect water, usually from several km away. And, of course, they are used to collect animal food, an any other provisions that the family needs.

As winter approaches, those who grow crops will be needing to prepare the ground ready for sowing seeds – a virtually impossble task when your tractor has be confiscated.