More than 300 Palestinians took to the streets in protest to halt the Israeli government’s plan to reopen a toxic waste dump in the West Bank.
The dump is located near crucial underground springs that supply water to the villages of Deir Sharaf and Beit Iba as well as Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank. The dump was shut down in 2005 following massive protests by Palestinian residents concerned for their health.
The most recent protests took place after prayer services on Sept. 26. Protesters carried signs that read, “Stop Dumping Settler Waste on Palestinian Lands” and “Waste Destroys the Palestinian Environment.”
If the waste dump is reopened, tens of thousands of Palestinians could be severely affected by the contaminated water. Residents have vowed to continue protests to ensure that the plant remains inactive.
