Palestinian village suffers water shutdown over donkeys
Arb al-Ramdin village supplied with water from nearby settlement for 13 years. After Alfei Menashe council head's daughter hits village's donkey with jeep, father decides to cut off water for entire village 'to illustrate matter's gravity.' Water reinstated after meeting with village dignitaries
Head of the Alfei Menashe regional council Eliezer Chasdai said that the shutdown wasn't due to a malfunction but an intended act aimed at punishing village residents for letting their donkeys roam free in the area. Chasdai's daughter was involved in a road accident with one over the weekend.
Chasdai met with the village dignatories on Sunday night and agreed to reopen the water pipe but warned them to take responsibility over the animals. The Civil Administration issued a statement according to which the matter was being checked.
Chasdai related how 13 years ago his 18-year-old daughter was killed in a late-night car accident in the area after hitting a donkey, which roamed the settlement's main road. Ever since, he said, settlers have been trying to illustrate to the villagers the dangers in having their donkeys parade the roads.
The council head claimed that despite their efforts, the villagers have failed to take action, despite being offered assistance by the settlers.
'Time to take responsibility'
He further added that last Friday disaster almost struck again: Another daughter of his drove a jeep and hit a donkey idly wandering the area. She escaped unharmed, but according to her father, suffered a trauma. "Luckily the incident ended as it did. We alerted, pleaded and nothing was done. It's high time they started taking responsibility and that's why I decided to shutdown the water supply for a few hours, to illustrate the gravity of the matter."
Chasdai praised the relationship between the settlement and the village. "We treat them with honor reserved for kings, supply them with water, employ them, entertain their children, look after them.
"We treat them with respect and empathy, but one thing we ask of them – that their donkeys be kept in closed quarters and not be allowed to roam free at night."
He also stated that he has promised to bring in a veterinarian on Monday to tag the animals in order to monitor them more easily. "You can't receive without giving, these are basics which could cost human life," Chasdai concluded.
