Israeli barrier cuts off water to West Bank Palestinians before elections

Saeed Ayed* watches over his livestock herd. The animals are starving and parched due to a two-week-long Israeli siege on the Ras al-Ahmar Bedouin community in the occupied West Bank’s Jordan Valley.Access to the community has been blocked since mid-September, as Israeli forces continue building a barrier through Palestinian land in the area, including a road for military patrols, trenches and embankments.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3How can Jordan respond to Israel’s escalation across the West Bank?list 2 of 3Israeli drone kills Palestinian in Gaza, settlers kill another in West Banklist 3 of 3Flydubai attack gives Netanyahu new security message ahead of Israel voteend of listSince the road closures began, movement for Palestinians has been severely restricted. They are forced to move around at night, transporting water, fodder and milk via donkeys under the cover of darkness to avoid detection by Israeli soldiers and settlers.Ayed told Al Jazeera that no water had entered the community over the past three days after Israeli forces sealed the access points residents had been using to bring in supplies.“The situation is dire. We are completely besieged, and the liv...