New Israeli Separation Wall Disrupts Farming in Northern Jordan Valley, Residents Say

What happened

The Middle East Eye regional source reports that Israel's latest separation wall and road project, named 'Crimson Thread,' is being built across the northern Jordan Valley, severing Palestinian farmers’ access to their land and water resources. According to residents and local councils cited by Middle East Eye, the project includes a 22-kilometre-long, 50-meter-wide barrier and accompanying road, which have already led to the destruction of water lines and farmland in the Buqe'aa Plain and surrounding villages like Atouf.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Locals like Khairallah Bani Odeh described how construction and accompanying settler attacks have forced them to abandon livestock farming and agriculture, vital sources of income for many families. Water lines supplying hundreds of hectares were reportedly bulldozed, livestock left without water, and crops burned. Those remaining must now contend with longer travel distances and higher costs to reach their fields, with some areas left inaccessible behind the wall and road.

Estimates presented by the Atouf Village Council suggest that over 20,000 dunams (approximately 2,000 hectares) of land are under threat due to drought and damage from disrupted water access. Farmers such as Anis Bisharat and Muhammad Gharaibeh highlighted the extent of crop losses and damage, with more than 40,000 dunams reportedly left without irrigation during the start of the summer season. There are also reports of settler outposts targeting agricultural areas overlooking the plain.

Known from the source

• Israel is constructing a new separation wall and road called ‘Crimson Thread’ in the northern Jordan Valley, covering 22 kilometers and 50 meters in width.
• The project is located along eastern lands of Tubas and the Buqe’aa Plain, affecting villages like Atouf.
• Construction has included bulldozing water lines, causing damage to farmland and livestock water supply.
• More than 20,000 dunams of land are threatened by drought or damage due to water shortages related to the project.
• The project was first reported in November 2025 by Haaretz and involves military seizure orders for 1,042 dunams.

What remains unclear

The project was first disclosed by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz in late 2025, describing it as a military road and separation wall extending from Ein Shibli to the Tayasir military checkpoint. Since the start of this year, bulldozers have carried out continuous work, and Israeli authorities have issued military orders seizing land along the barrier’s route. Critics such as the human rights group B’Tselem characterize the Jordan Valley as heavily restricted for Palestinian presence, with ongoing land seizures viewed as part of de facto annexation.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent verification of the extent of land and water line destruction claimed by residents. Confirmation of the status and length of the ‘Crimson Thread’ barrier and road construction from official or multiple sources. Verification of claims about settler involvement in attacks and destruction near the Buqe’aa Plain.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Middle East Eye Gaza. Open the source.