Slaimiya from Bethlehem: Supporting the resilience of farmers is a national priority, and protecting the land begins with strengthening the agricultural presence.

• Field tour to assess the needs of farmers in areas targeted by settlements.
• Meeting with affected farmers and distributing olive saplings as part of the emergency response program.
• Official and field meetings to strengthen partnership and support the agricultural sector in Bethlehem Governorate

Bethlehem - May 20, 2026

Minister of Agriculture, Professor Riziq Slaimiya, conducted an extensive field tour in Bethlehem Governorate on Wednesday. The tour included official meetings and inspection visits aimed at bolstering the resilience of farmers and supporting the agricultural sector, particularly in areas affected by Israeli occupation attacks and settlement expansion.

Minister Slaimiya began his visit by meeting with the Governor of Bethlehem, Mr. Muhammad Taha, at the Governorate headquarters. They discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation to protect agricultural lands and nature reserves. The meeting also addressed mechanisms for developing several vital agricultural sectors in the governorate, including the livestock market and agricultural nurseries.

Governor Muhammad Taha emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts to strengthen the resilience of citizens in areas adjacent to settlements, outlining the serious challenges facing the agricultural sector and farmers in the governorate. For his part, Minister Slaimiya emphasized that the Ministry prioritizes direct fieldwork alongside farmers and strives to enhance developmental and emergency interventions to protect the land and support national agricultural production.

During the tour, Minister Slaimiya visited Palestine Ahliya University, where he met with the Chairman of the University's Board of Trustees, Haj Daoud Al-Zeer. The two discussed the importance of linking scientific research with modern agricultural technologies and strengthening the integration between academic work and field training.

He called on the university to adopt pioneering educational and technological programs that contribute to supporting the agricultural sector by training qualified personnel capable of keeping pace with the latest global technologies, thus serving sustainability and food security.

At another stop on the tour, Minister Slaimiya and the Governor of Bethlehem visited the Al-Ubaidiya Municipality headquarters, where an official meeting was held with Mayor Muhammad Matar Radaideh, Governor Muhammad Taha, and members and representatives of the municipal council, who welcomed the ministerial delegation.

The meeting then addressed in detail the situation in Al-Rahwa area, which faces continuous targeting and repeated settler attacks aimed at restricting the movement of its residents. The Minister reviewed the most pressing needs of farmers in this vital region to bolster their resilience. Discussions focused on mechanisms for coordinating official, popular, and municipal efforts to provide immediate support and the essential resources necessary for reclaiming and protecting their land.

The tour concluded with a direct field meeting with farmers affected by the occupation's attacks in the governorate. Minister Salimiya listened to their testimonies about the daily challenges they face.

In a supportive gesture, olive saplings were distributed to the farmers as part of the Ministry's comprehensive emergency response program, which targets all areas of the governorate. This initiative underscores the citizens' deep connection to their land and demonstrates the Ministry of Agriculture's commitment to supporting and empowering Palestinian farmers against all attempts at displacement.