Rotem (Hebrew: רותם)

is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located in the northern Jordan River Valley along the Allon Road south-west of Shadmot Mehola, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council.In 2022 it had a population of 275. The international community considers Israeli settlements to be illegal under international law.

Tene Yarok Farm of Didi Amosi (father of Gilad Amosi)

About a decade ago, Didi Amosi established the Tene Yarok farm near the settlement of Rotem in the Jordan Valley. In recent years, residents of Palestinian communities from the area have testified about the harassment and expulsion of their herds by settlers who came from the direction of the outpost. Didi Amosi, who was also the security officer of the Rotem settlement, was reprimanded a few years ago for attacking an activist from the Jordan Valley activists group who accompany Palestinian shepherds who are suffering from bullying and harassment by settlers and the authorities. Last December, a settler who came from the direction of the outpost attacked two activists near the Farisiyah Palestinian community, and they needed hospital treatment.

Recently, a Palestinian family from the Farisiyah community, near which the outpost was established, was forced to leave their homes. In this video, Didi is seen driving into a herd of sheep and then attacking an activist and throwing his phone.

Chronology of the expansion of Rottem Settlement violence

In 20216, Israel has announced a new master plan for expanding the Rotem colony in the northern Palestinian Jordan Valley, seizing 1,574.3 dunums of Palestinian land that was originally confiscated in 1980 for "military purposes." The plan includes residential expansion, tourism, agricultural and industrial facilities, and public spaces. Rotem, initially a military base, later became an agricultural settlement and continues to receive significant state support, while Palestinians in the area face severe restrictions. The expansion violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions and international law, which prohibit Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

On February 20217

Israeli settlers from Rotem colony have begun establishing a new outpost to the west of Rotem, in the Palestinian area of Wad Al-Malih, Tubas governorate. The settlers have set up two caravans as the initial step in taking over more Palestinian land. This expansion violates Palestinian land rights and threatens further land confiscation. The Israeli government's support for such outposts, through proposed legalization bills, accelerates the process of settlement expansion. This is part of a broader pattern of Israeli colonization in the West Bank, which contravenes multiple UN Security Council resolutions and international law prohibiting settlements in occupied territories.

On April 19, 2022

Israeli settlers installed two caravans in the Ihmayyer area, part of Palestinian land belonging to the Al Farsiya community. This marks the beginning of a potential new settlement, a process that has been repeated in nearby areas, like Maskiyyot. Over time, such settlements grow, leading to the construction of permanent housing, roads, and other infrastructure, all supported and protected by the Israeli military. This expansion is part of a broader policy of land confiscation and ethnic cleansing aimed at displacing Palestinian communities from the Jordan Valley.

On the same day, Israel's National Nature Assessment Program declared the nearby Ein El-Hilwe area a nature reserve, renaming it after Israeli colonies and erasing the Palestinian presence. This follows a history of restricting Palestinian access to the land, which had previously been declared a closed military zone. The community is concerned that the installation of the nature reserve sign is the first step in further restricting their access and control over the land.

On March 2024

Luai Abu Muhsen, a 42-year-old resident of al-Farisiyah, describes the ongoing harassment and violence his family faces from Israeli settlers in the area, especially over the past two years. They are frequently blocked from accessing pasture, beaten, and their tractor has been confiscated twice. On December 17, 2023, while tending to their sheep, settlers in a pickup truck deliberately ran over two sheep and attacked Luai's brother, Barakat, with a sharp object, causing a deep wound. Despite calling for help, the Israeli police and army arrived but did nothing, demonstrating their collaboration with the settlers.

Luai expresses frustration, noting that settlers have fenced off their land, making it harder to sustain their livestock. The settlers have become dominant in the Jordan Valley, and the Abu Muhsen family feels unsupported by authorities. Other families have been forced to leave due to threats and violence, and Luai highlights the lack of action from the Israeli authorities. Recently, Israeli activists have been staying in the community to offer protection, but the settlers’ violence continues, including destroying tents and intimidating those who attempt to support the Palestinian community.

On Augustus 21, 2024

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has reported that recent settler violence in the occupied West Bank has led to the "largest forcible transfer" of Palestinians since October 7.Three Palestinian communities, totaling 119 individuals, have been displaced in the last ten days due to attacks by illegal settlers who established new outposts and blocked access to water.

Two communities, Al-Farsiya Khallet Khader and Al-Farisiya al-Zu’bi, have been completely abandoned, while only one family remains in Ein al-Hilweh – Um al-Jmal. The NRC holds Israel responsible as the occupying power for the actions of the settlers, emphasizing that these actions are a grave violation of international law. The violence has displaced or put at risk the remaining 18 communities in the Al-Maleh region, causing significant damage to Palestinian livelihoods and violating their rights. The NRC also highlighted that humanitarian aid worth nearly a quarter of a million euros has been affected or destroyed by settlers. The organization has called for Israel to shut down illegal settler outposts, investigate settler attacks, and hold perpetrators accountable. Additionally, reports revealed that illegal settlers have intentionally started 273 fires on Palestinian land since October 7, contributing to further violence and displacement.

On March 2, 2025

Israeli settlers released their livestock into the rain-fed crops of Palestinian farmers in Khirbet al-Farsiya village, located in the northern Jordan Valley, region, northeast of the occupied West Bank.

They grazed their sheep in the Palestinian agricultural fields, causing significant damage to the crops.

Settler routinely allow their livestock to graze in Palestinian farmland, leading to considerable losses. Annually, they destroy hundreds of dunums of agricultural land in the northern Jordan Valley, in addition to blocking Palestinian farmers from grazing their livestock, raiding their homes, intimidating families, and attempting to steal livestock.

On March 26:

• Three settlers, led by Gilad Amosi, invaded the Palestinian village of al-Farsiya at 01.00 A.M., one of them drove around on an ATV, shouting at residents and human rights activists. Then the settlers set up camp on the hill 50 meters away from the village.

• The activists confronted the settlers, who called Israeli police. The police arrived, questioned the activists, got their ID numbers and left. For the next 2.5 hours the settlers sat on the hill and the activists monitored them from the village.

• At 03.30 A.M. one of the settlers, armed with an M16 assault rifle, invaded the village once again. When he was confronted by the activists and residents, he started pushing them, and then hit three people with the barrel of his gun. All three sustained minor injuries. The settler then cocked his gun and pointed it at the activists and residents, including children. After being further confronted and filmed by the activists, he retreated back to the hill.

• At 06.00 A.M. Israeli Occupation soldiers invaded the village together with the police. They once again pointed weapons at the human rights activists, threatened and pushed them. Israeli police arrested one of the activists.

• This is part of an escalating campaign of ethnic cleansing of the Jordan Valley. Almost daily, the Palestinian village of al-Farsiya is being targeted by settler terror, spearheaded by settler leader Didi Amosi (see picture, left), and the security coordinator of the settlement Rotem Daniel Ran (see picture, right). Several Palestinian communities in the area have already been expelled, and without urgent intervention, the same will happen to al-Farsiya.