Flying Checkpoints

Translator:  Charles K.

How the presence of the army is legitimized and imbued with meaning

Nobody is waiting at the Meitar checkpoint.  All the laborers are already on the Israeli side.  We again note that those manning this checkpoint behave appropriately.

Route 60

A military vehicle stands at the entrance to Dahariyya.  Soldiers are inside; they don’t get out, but they’re there, right next to the sign notifying that you’re entering Area A, making their presence known.  We photograph them; one responds with a rude gesture.

The road is full of cars and pupils at this hour of the morning.

Reservists at the Dura-Elfawwar junction; they’ve come down from the pillbox, stand around. “Area A” newly inscribed in sloppy handwriting on the concrete barrier, one soldier standing on guard next to it, two others stopping cars coming from Elfawwar on their way to Dura and then on to their territory, Area A, to Hebron. That’s their daily routine – why interfere with it?  Why come in to upset daily life?  How else could the reservists feel they’re doing something important?  How else could they tell themselves and their families that this waste of time and money has some meaning, some justification?  So they stand on the road in the morning, conducting searches.  “When will you dismantle the checkpoint?” we ask.  “At eight,” they reply.  More proof that it’s only to give them something to do:  If there had been a real reason for the checkpoint, they wouldn’t have already known when it would come down.  Wouldn’t they remain until the problem had been solved?  But there’s a schedule:  From 7 to 8:  a flying checkpoint.  Breakfast is at 8, so they have to leave.  Meanwhile:  we’re in charge here.

The same occurs at the Pharmacy checkpoint, though the soldiers there are from the Lavie battalion. They’re stopping cars at the outskirts of the southern entrance to Hebron. Only Palestinians are allowed to use this road.

“Don’t talk to them,” one soldier says to the others.  We hear them explain about Ella, a friend of theirs who appeared on the “Big Brother” program [on Israeli TV].

Hebron

Two guards stand at the concrete barrier at the entrance to Kiryat Arba, next to the hitchhiking station.

“Mitzpeh Avichai” keeps expanding on the hill to our right.  Solar heaters, cars, etc.  It doesn’t seem that anyone thinks it’s illegal.

In the city, many children on their way to school. Paratroopers guard the Worshippers’ route. Paratroopers are also at Curve 160 today, rather than Border Police. Border Police man the other checkpoints to the Cave of the Patriarchs.  We drove to the Tarpa”t checkpoint, hoping they’re allowing teachers from the Cordova school to go through the gate. No, it’s locked. The locals tell us that a few days ago a girl was found with a knife that she’d carried intentionally. She was happy to be arrested. It’s what she desired, because she didn’t want her father to force her to marry someone she didn’t want.

We’re told about another guy who was arrested for touching a soldier when he asked him not to be rude to a girl he was searching. “But,” he added, “there are also good soldiers, who are kind and embarrassed.”  Hagit “dares” to rip down a sign reading “Kahana was right.” A young soldier starts yelling at her: “Rip down your own signs. The settlers have a right to put up whatever they want!  You’re not allowed to remove it.” He seems very jumpy. His commander calms him down, asks Hagit to move back a little. From the side it appears he is strongly motivated to detain Palestinians. His companions say they’re acquainted with the detainees and he lets them go. It’s still quiet at the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Everything’s as usual at Beit HaMeriva.  Soldiers on site, but someone made a path between the concrete barriers so residents of the neighborhood could take a route which should never have been blocked.

We left the city with a sigh of relief, as always. Nothing special happened today.

Southern Hebron Hills

We drove home via Highway 317 to see whether there’s anything new on “Antenna Hill,” not far from Zif junction. 

In fact, this is “Mitzpor Ziv,” established in memory of two employees of the Israel Electric Company who were killed there in 2003.

Now an Israeli flag flies there. Locals tell us that people have begun to come pray there. One day they placed a trailer or something like it, but it was demolished. There are signs of some kind of construction.  We should keep track of what’s happening.

 Natanya translating

When there are no permanent checkpoints there are rolling checkpoints.

6.25 Azzun Atma. An innovation at the checkpoint. After months of complaints about the lack of shelter - a kind of an enormous tent covers the checking area as protection against sun and rain. But only there, over the heads of the Palestinians who are waiting in queues nothing has been built. A long line stretches out there and the drivers say that they have been waiting about an hour for their workers. There are reservists and a captain present but they do nothing to shorten the line of those waiting but adding a soldier who can register by hand. The soldiers say that it is not terrible that the workers are waiting in line because they would in any case have had to wait for their transport……

6.45 The Shomron crossing.  No blue police presence at the exit from Israel. At the entrance to Israel is more careful checking than usual.

The entrance of Marda and Zeita is open.

Za’tara/Tapuach.There are no soldiers at the checkpoint post but in spite of that the drivers go slower and there seems to be an interference with the traffic.

Burin/Yitzhar checkpoints.  No army activity.

7.10 Beit Furik.  At the entrance to the village there is again this week a rolling checkpoint. A group of soldiers have spread out a road's spikes and the traffic stands mainly at the exit of the village.  We counted 50.The soldiers tell us that this is the way it should be. We spoke to the DCO and they said that they would check if this checkpoint was necessary.  About 10 minutes later when we left the village we saw that the road's spikes had been removed and the soldiers and the line of cars had disappeared. 

At the “permanent” checkpoint at Beit Furikthere was no army activity

Awarta.The yellow bar still prevents the passage.

7.45 Huwwara checkpoint.No soldiers. 2 soldiers block the ascent to Bracha settlement. We did not see a soldier at the post opposite the hitching site.

Burin/Yitzhar  No army vehicle.

8.10 Za’tara/Tapuach.No soldiers at the posts.

 Shomron crossing.  A superficial check.

Translator:  Charles K.

Meitar crossing

 the laborers are already gone; there’s one bus with relatives of prisoners. In the afternoon we watched the operation of the new device replacing the dogs that inspected the cars at the crossing – a kind of pipe that senses odors. It takes more time than the dog did – about a quarter of an hour. And it also singles out as dangerous propane tanks like those used in Coleman stoves and lanterns. Of course, only vehicles belong to Arabs are stopped. (Who’s the likely suspect?) And why don’t they stop even one Jewish car, if only to create an impression of fairness?

Highway 60

Traffic flows as usual, with no interference.  Soldiers guard the illegal outpost of Eshtamo’a where a new Egged [Israeli public transporation company] bus stop has been erected. Palestinians don’t get on Egged buses – are they forbidden?  Perhaps the state of Israel didn’t hear about Rosa, from Alabama?

An army jeep at the entrance to Bani Na’im.

The observation balloon floats near Carmei Tzur; Big Brother needs more than pillboxes.

Soldiers came down from the pillbox at Beit Umar and created a minor traffic jam – inspecting everyone getting into the taxis. 

Soldiers guard the hitchhiking stations at the exit from Kiryat Arba and at the Gush Etzion junction.

Today Muhammad and I participated in a program of Kol Hashalom, which brought us all the way to Jerusalem.

On our way back we decided to drive to Teko’ah and see the checkpoints, and discovered a new one – at Mizmoriyya, manned by the Border Police. They stop Palestinian taxis coming from villages in the area, passengers get out, their documents are quickly returned – but why do they even have to do it?

The army’s logic would say that it’s necessary to protect Lieberman, the honorable Foreign Minister, who’s alive and kicking in the Noqdim settlement… beyond which is the settlement of Teko’ah, and then Ma’aleh Amos, and then Avney HaNahal, and then P’nei Qedem.  And Herodion overlooking them all.

This is Highway 398 – we counted three more flying checkpoints.

Again the usual procedure – soldiers open the taxi door, and arbitrarily decide whether to allow it to drive on or to collect ID cards.  No traffic jams formed, but to avoid misunderstanding it’s necessary to demonstrate who’s in charge here.

Signs point the way to Be’ersheba and Hebron…except that the road ends at another military checkpoint and red signs indicating that you’re entering Palestinian Authority territory…

Since we informed the soldiers that we won’t be returning to the Gush Etzion junction, and that we accept responsibility for anything that might happen to us, they didn’t prevent us from continuing. We went through Shayuh, which was full of Palestinian flags; residents said they’d been there since the Palestinian independence celebrations – and I remember that today is November 29 [the anniversary of the 1947 UN vote ending the British Mandate over Palestine and approving the Partition Plan].  We left Shayuh near the pillbox at the entrance to Sa’ir.  We took Highway 60 home.

Near the junction, a little past the humanitarian checkpoint, the electric company is erecting high tension wires.  This time there were soldiers only at the Kvasim junction but they didn’t stop anyone – observing the human landscape, as it were, with weapons.

There’s nothing so lovely as the borderland between the hill country and the Judean desert.  It’s too bad that the reality is so ugly.

Translator:  Charles K.

An unusual day, because of, or despite, the holiday.

06:30  Azzun Atma:  An unusual sight greeted us when we arrived at the checkpoint:  three handcuffed young men, blindfolded with strips of flannel, lying behind two plastic barriers.  The solitary soldier guarding the checkpoint reports they’d been brought by a group of soldiers who’d caught them nearby trying to cut the fence.  They’ve been waiting more than an hour for the police, who are taking their time arriving.

 The soldier told us he had to blindfold them so they couldn’t escape.  He’s there alone, except for the MP.  Where are the other soldiers?  You won’t believe this:  there are fleas in the guard tower so they’ve reduced the number of soldiers stationed here.

The line is very long,even though the holiday hasn’t ended and we wouldn’t have expected people to be going to work.  Apparently the need to make a living takes precedence.

No police present at the Shomron crossing for people leaving Israel.

The entrances to Marda and Zeita are open.

 Za’tara/Tapuach:  One male and one female soldier in the inspection booths, but traffic isn’t delayed.

 Yitzhar/Burin checkpoint:  No military activity.

07:10  Driving up Har Bracha:  The soldier inspects Palestinian cars driving up the hill.

A military vehicle parked at the entrance to Itamar.

07:20  Beit Furik:  A flying checkpoint at the entrance to the village.  Soldiers set up a spike barrier; traffic is stopped on both sides.  We bypass the line and try to find out from the soldiers the reason for the delay.  They simply don’t understand the question.  We were told in the village that this happens routinely, from time to time.  We asked the DCO, who told us they knew about the checkpoint.  The checkpoint was still there when we left the village, but almost none of the vehicles leaving were being checked.

Awarta:  The yellow barrier arm still prevents free passage.

07:45  No soldiers at the Huwwara checkpoint.

Burin/Yizhar:  No military activity.

08:25  Za’tara/Tapuach:  No soldiers in the positions.  Traffic police in the parking lot, but we don’t see them bothering the Palestinians.

At the Shomron crossing we’re asked where we’re from (Ramat Hasharon, we answered), and a policewoman asked us to open the trunk.

.

We decided to drive to an area that Machsom Watch doesn’t often visit.  Not all the villages along main roads are accessible from them, either because the turnoffs are blocked, or there’s no road, or because, though there is a road, it’s in such bad shape that people seek alternate routes even though they take longer.

11:10 –

At Shomron crossing, only vehicles going west are inspected.

11:20 –

A checkpoint on the road to Salfit near the entrance to Ariel (from Route 5) is manned by two reservists.  Plastic barriers slow traffic toward Salfit.  In response to our question about who’s allowed through the checkpoint, one of the soldiers replies, “It’s better not to ask too many questions.”  A Palestinian taxi arriving at the checkpoint continues without stopping.

We drove on toward Za’tara.  Palestinians harvesting olives can still be seen along the road.  We turned onto Highway 60 toward Ramallah and Jerusalem.

12:00 

A personnel carrier makes a U-turn at the entrance to Turmus-Ai.  We drove into the village, and on our return saw three soldiers at the entrance stopping people to inspect their documents.  We saw the military vehicle driving north on the dirt road alongside Highway 60.

At the Kokhav Ya’ir junction we turned onto Highway 457 toward Mikhmash, and then onto Highway 458 toward Rimonim.  Concrete blocks scattered on the right, signs on them warning of a “firing range,” something we’re familiar with farther north in the Jordan Valley.

There’s a guard tower where the Rimonim checkpoint used to be, opposite the road to Tayibe.  We didn’t see any soldiers around (unlike last week).

We passed the settlement of Kokhav HaShachar, and Giv’at Assaf, its outpost, and continued toward Ein Samya.  Near it, and east of Highway 458 (the Alon road), are many holdings belonging to residents of Kafr Malik.  The road from Kafr Malik to Ein Samya is blocked; residents of the village forbidden to drive on it and forced to go through Tayibe.  While we waited at the roadblock, a family arrived from the direction of Highway 458, heading to one of its holdings.  One member, who’d returned from an extended stay abroad, recounted the hardships caused by the occupation, limitations on moving around freely, prohibitions against entering Israel and the fact that while they were cultivating their holdings east of the road, settlers living on isolated farms in the area attacked them, so the army blocked physically blocked access to their holdings.  The village council is dealing with the issue.

We tried to drive via Mughayr back to Highway 60, but because the road wasn’t paved we decided to have mercy on the car, so we drove up to the Shiloh bloc.  Our map showed a road (in poor condition) leading from the Kida outpost to Mughayr, but we couldn’t find any, only a dirt track leading to a plant nursery.  After we finished ascending we saw a chain of electrically-operated gates marking entrances/exits of settlements and outposts, and military vehicles also slotted into the landscape.  The settlements, their outposts and other extensions seem to be developing and flourishing thanks to that protection, defying, but also ignoring, the surrounding Palestinian villages (a boy we asked how to get to Highway 60 knew exactly where we should turn, and to where, but also knew we “have to go through some Arab village.”).

We returned to Highway 505 -5, and spoke with drivers at the entrance to Zeita-Jama’in.  They complain about the police – both Israeli and Palestinian.

15:00 

Traffic at the Shomron crossing is unimpeded, as before; the inspector asks where we’re from.

13:00 Habla

The gate is still shut. There is a considerable number of people waiting, as well as carts and vehicles. It seems that in the beginning of the week the traffic around the gate is livelier than on the other days of the week.

13:11

The gate is opened late. The two gates (the northern and the southern) are opened simultaneously.A minor relief. Two Palestinians, out of their own initiative, improve the moorings of the open gates. Today the checking is not very lengthy. Yet three men are ordered with excessive resoluteness to retreat a few steps. As usual the people pass to be checked in groups of five. The children's bus passes at 13:20.

13:30 Azzun

No military presence at all, neither Israeli nor Palestinian.

13:45 Jiyus

We look for the southern Jiyus gate which is open between 13:45 to 14:00. A., a local, comes to help us. In his great kindness he joins the car as a guide. The unpaved road passes hidden in an olive grove. Without him it wouldn't have been exposed. He shows us the remainders of the former separation fence which has been moved as a result of a high court of justice decision. A.: "Many olive trees have been uprooted here for the fence. Without end. Don't ask. You have an ugly government. Will only make war. I don't know the name of the gate (Jiyus south) I don't want to know it. I have an authorization. I threw it away. I tore it up. The truth is that your ugly government is not interested in peace at all. (introduces a local lad) . They took his papers away. In order to pressurize him to work for the general security services. They want him to be a collaborator. You don't understand anything that goes on here. As if you Israelis have come from…I have no words in Hebrew to explain. (perhaps he wanted to say "as if you came from the moon"), nothing can be achieved under pressure." By the way, A. categorically ignored the repeated remark: "but your condition has bettered since the high court of justice ruled about the shifting of the fence". No. He is not grateful at all. What he remembers is the sight of the uprooted olives.

14:40

, Anabta CP – Prepare your occupation for the winter

The CP is closed because the road is being repaired, for fear of flooding in the rainy season. The road is hermetically closed. Here they do not act according to the custom of the rest of the world – enabling the passage of cars alternately. An Israeli Palestinian hisses: "they have no feeling. Why did they close the road altogether? Why, aren't there human beings here?" The road is closed for eight days. In order to arrive at their destination the drivers have to drive by way of a defective earth road. Not all vehicles are able to do that.  

15:00

Shuffa, The blockage is like a thorn in one's side 

The turning to Shuffa is decorated with Israeli flags, very proud ones, although there is no holiday and no Shabbat today. We meet Mr. Abu Ala, the head of the village since five years. Before he used to be a teacher in the local school. Near the obstruction blockage, which divides the village into two parts, we learn a lesson about the rules of communication under occupation. Taxis on both sides of the blockage coordinate by telephone. From lower Shuffa a group of beautiful young girl arrives. Eleven passengers crowd into the taxi to upper Shuffa, besides the baby in his mother's arms. Owing to our ignorance of Arabic, we rely on the assistance of a man from Tul Karem who mediates between us and Mr. Abu Ala. In order to reach work they are obliged to perform a detour of 20 Kms. Children go to school and from school twice a day (a distance of about five Kms in each direction). They do it hot days and in cold ones. They don't have the means to pay for 4 taxi fares a day. The serious problem in Shuffa is the blockage. The segmentation of the village tears families apart, prevent family relations, lengthens trips and makes them more expensive, separates people from their lands,cuts livelihood off. The blockage is made because of the Avney Hefetz settlement. The man from Tul Karem says: "the road is blocked since the first intifada. During the Ramadan month this year the road was opened for the first time for a whole month. There were no problems. Avney Hefetz exist here ten years. We – thousand. This road exists for thousand years. "

Although this matter has been discussed in the past, it is impossible not to dwell on it. Like Carthage, the Shuffa blockage must be demolished.

P., a man from Shuffa tells us that he received a demolition order. He built his house without a permit, because no permits are given. The building of the house was completed six years ago. Two months ago he got the demolition order. He was told: "if you have papers – bring them. If not – get out." He received a week's span. 

People tell us furthermore that they were ordered to uproot all the crops in a certain area. "They don't want anybody working his land."

16:00 –

Irtah, Sha'ar Ephraim

A building drive. Here too they prepare for the winter – awnings were build above the market that takes place in the passage itself. A building that has been erected a short time ago is intended for the trade in second hand vehicles. It seems a lively trade is taking place between the inhabitants of the occupied territories and their occupiers.

The stream of returning people doesn't stop. It is the hour at which workmen return to their homes. The passage path is also being repaired and therefore, according to the security person, they again pass through the building on their way back home.

__._,_.___

Translator:  Charles K.

Part 1:  The entrance to Burin

As you know, the villageof Burin is exposed to harassment by settlers who invade its fields from all directions.  The cursed Har Bracha threatens from the east, Yitzhar’s thugs scheme from the west, while the youths of Gil’ad Farm are happy to join the festive burning of the olive trees.  The presence of Israelis during harvesting provides an insurance policy (only a very partial one, but if necessary they’ll at least be witnesses more easily able to come testify) against the attacks.  That’s why we agreed to Munir’s request, posted on the web, to help a resident of Huwwara whose groves are in Burin harvest his olives.

Rachel Afek, my spouse, Gid’on and I went in the morning to the villageof Burin, but were stopped by a roadblock at the entrance.  A second lieutenant from the paratroopers and three other soldiers ordered all the drivers to show documents, and us also.  But we were informed that Israelis weren’t allowed to enter the village.  “But,” we wondered, “the village is in Area B, and as members of Machsom Watch we come through here every week, and there’s absolutely no reason to prevent us from helping the Palestinians harvest olives.” but they don’t budge: “Orders from headquarters.”  We stood our ground and informed them that we know they have no right to stop us, unless they can show us an order from the GOC.  They didn’t have a GOC order.  Their phone call to headquarters brought a “final” answer from Dana – there’s no GOC order, but there’s an order from headquarters to prohibit entry to Israelis.  We didn’t back down and asked to speak with Dana.  Rachel called and again said we’re members of Machsom Watch, we come here every week, we came to help a Palestinian family harvest olives, and there’s absolutely no reason for us to give in.  Dana had no choice but to go ask someone…and returned with the answer that there’s no problem, and we can enter.  And so, after a delay of almost an hour, we finally entered the village - late, but at least feeling we hadn’t surrendered to the arbitrary imposition of prohibitions and unauthorized separations, and in pain at an additional distorting side effect of the occupation.

Part two:  Harvesting olives in Har Bracha’s accursed shadow

 Munir met us not far from the village entrance, along with the owners of the grove, members of the Ouda family:  Haj Bajis Salim Ouda, who looks 15 years younger than his age, 70; and two of his seven sons and five daughters – Mahmoud and ‘Abed.  “You won’t be able to get there by car,” they told us, so we left the car and got into the son’s rattling van.  The vehicle went up the hill on a narrow path between the boulders until it got stuck on one.  Gid’on, Munir and his brother were finally able to free it, though some parts were left dangling loosely.  We then went up another 300 meters, and the first thing we saw was a few dozen olive trees that had been burned completely, and beyond them more half-burned trees.  So, not more than 10-11 trees remained bearing fruit that could be harvested.  The Ouda family has another large grove, but the plot here on the hillside isn’t very big, some 40-50 trees, only a quarter of which weren’t burned.  Below the settlement of Har Bracha, right next to the outpost of Giv’at Ronen (an expansion of Har Bracha), we could see dry olive trees standing shamefully, whose owners don’t dare cultivate them.  That grove has already become occupied territory belonging to the illegal outpost.

The Ouda family’s grove is located on the side of the hill, about 100 meters below the Giv’at Ronen outpost.  On our way there, and in the grove, we walked through thorns, thistles and briars that came up to our knees.  You have to plow twice after the first rain, and at the end of the rainy season, to uproot them, but the army doesn’t allow it.  About four months ago the settler neighbors burned the trees.  A tractor that went to plow was also torched.  One of the settlers was sitting on a rock firing at it, enjoying himself.  Fortunately no one was hurt – it all happened on a day that had been coordinated with the army.  In other words – they can work their land with the army protecting them from hoodlums two days a year.  But even on these two days there’s really no protection.  They’re given an additional day each year to plow, but at a time when plowing is no longer possible.  Even on those few days each year where they coordinate and are promised protection – the hoodlums are those who control the area.  Today also – which had been coordinated in advance – no protection could be seen.  We were lucky that the pyromaniacs didn’t show up either.

The family members spread out their canvas cloths on the thistles and the three of us picked while the sons climbed the tree, picking from the upper branches.  The 70-year-old-father climbs to the treetop to saw off the tops of the trees that have been harvested.  At the same time, Munir cut back sharply the partly-burned branches, hoping they will bear fruit again in 4-5 years, if no one burns them again.  Thanks to the settlers we finished harvesting the remaining trees in a few hours and then had time to look at the lovely landscape of hills around us, on the Huwwara valley, the villages on the outskirts of Nablus, the checkpoint, the DCO and Awarta below us, and at the apartheid road on part of which Palestinians are now able to drive.  Then we went down to the family’s large grove located among the buildings of the village.

That grove looked very different.  The trees’ boughs and foliage spread wide and green, the ground beneath cleared and free of rocks.  The hoodlums don’t dare come here, our host said.  We met a number of the father’s daughters-in-law, and many children who clung to their grandfather.  They spread a cloth beneath one of the trees and piled delicacies of all kinds on it, crisp pitas, hummus, home-made goat cottage cheese, tuna, pickles and more.  Unfortunately, the women and children had already finished eating, and didn’t accede to our urging that they join us.  Only those who worked in the upper grove remained to eat.  After eating we said goodbye to the family and drove off.

This harvest day ended well, but the picture is unequivocal.  The army, which is supposed to be sovereign in the area, leaves the settler thugs in control.  Isn’t it the case that two days of coordination a year, during which there’s no protection either, and preventing plowing the land, constitutes cooperation with the settlers’ expropriations?

Translator:  Charles K.

Sansana - Meitar crossing

Packed with trucks and private cars on both sides of the checkpoint.  A sign of active commerce and many workers.

The shed and the revolving gates are empty.  All the laborers already went through.  “Normalization.”

Route 317

Almost completely empty.  Israeli flags flying defiantly, blatantly, all along the road.

At the turn to Carmel, energetic settlers paste everywhere they can posters reading:   “Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria next year.” 

There’s “hope” in the air this Rosh HaShana.  No one here has any doubts.

Route 60

Many army and other security personnel at the turn to Bani Na’im on the dirt tracks that bypass the road.  Soldiers on their way in to the locality.

A Border Police soldier blocks the road.  “Closed military area,” he says.  A jumpy officer chases us off rudely and demands we erase photos we’ve taken.  Hagit demands to see his ID and a document authorizing him to give us such orders.  In response he demands her ID, calls someone and gives them her details.

The law has “muscle.”  It seems to be very important to him to show who’s in charge here.  They’re apparently making a great effort to find the non-Jewish stone throwers.

Jeeps and soldiers at the entrance to Kiryat Arba.  The civilian guard cynically asks M., our driver, who’s a fan of Barcelona’s soccer team, and has its pennants hanging permanently in his car: “Isn’t it time to hang the tricolor flag with the triangle instead of Barce’s pennants?”  But, as always, he doesn’t prevent us from coming in.  “Just great!”

Hebron

There’s now a paratroop battalion in Hebron.

Next to Beit HaMeriva we ran into Osama, who lives on the Worshippers’ Route and as a result the entrance to his home was sealed about a year and a half ago.  He says nothing’s changed since then even though “Yesh Din” has tried to help him.  Nor does he believe there’s any chance his door will be unsealed.  Our friend B., who lives right next to Beit HaMeriva, also shows up.  He says the area has been quiet for a long time.  A paratroop officer and soldier watch the “traitoresses,” but don’t say anything.  All they’ll say to us is that they won’t get leave for the holiday, and they remember that when they were children people expressed to them the hope that when they grew up they’d no longer have to serve in the army.  What’s important is that, for now, the army “lives” in this house.  The adjoining Moslem cemetery is being renovated, and there are also concrete blocks and concertina wire everywhere.  Two elderly women trudge through the obstacles on the road which was once much easier to walk along.  They complain how hard it is to get through.  And we, as always, say nothing, embarrassed.

In general, what’s most noticeable in this [mixed Arab-Jewish] ghost town [Hebron] are the pedestrians.  Old men, women carrying babies and small children can only walk, ascend and descend difficult, steep paths up Shuhada Street toward Tel Rumeida, etc.  All so they don’t interfere with the movement of the “lords of the land.”  No detainees at any of the checkpoints.  Just the usual desperation.

On our way back, near Dahariyya, we met some young people.  One of them, who sells sheep, told us that yesterday, on his way to Nablus, near Ma’ale Mikhmash, settlers attacked him, threw rocks, broke windows in his vehicle and beat him.  He didn’t try to call for help because, in his experience, the police do nothing when Palestinians are attacked.  He simply fled.  He was also attacked two months ago near “Shavei Shomron.”  Now he shows us the marks on his car from the rocks.  He’d already replaced the window.  He agrees to notify us immediately the next time it happens so we can help him file a complaint and/or give him the names of our members who deal with that specific region so one of us can assist him.  We also suggested that he carry a camera with him and take pictures if he can do so without endangering himself.

Translation:  Suzanne O.

A small change in the plan – a friendly visit to the palace built on the borders of Beit Furik

Shomron Crossing

6:30 a.m. 

There is no civilian police presence at the exit from Israel.

The entrances to Marda and Zeita are open.

Za'tara/Tapuach

We saw no soldiers at the checkpoints or in the position opposite the roundabout.  There were few cars at the top of the road.

A military vehicle drives through the streets of Huwwara.

Yitzhar/Burin roadblocks

There is no military activity.

6:58 a.m.

On the way to Huwwara roadblock there is a flying checkpoint:  a military vehicle has stopped a car for questioning on the shoulder of the road.

Awarta

The yellow barrier is still barring the crossing to Nablus.

We stop in Beit Furik to pay our respects in the house which has just been completed at the entrance to the village.  It is many storied and particularly ornate.  It has a swimming pool, a lodge for security people and a very large fruit orchard.  The owner was born in Beit Furik and his wife (his first wife) was born in Nablus.  Their daughters are at home including the eldest who is on a visit with their first grandchild.  It all represents a comfortable lifestyle and a good life.

Beit Furik

7:40 a.m. 

There are no soldiers at the roadblock and the traffic flows unhindered.

Huwwara roadblock

7:45 a.m. 

There are no soldiers at the roadblock itself but now a soldier is positioned along the road to the settlement Bracha and another one opposite the hitchhikers' station.  There is something new:  the area around the old car park and the pedestrian checkpoints has been cleared of all the weeds and rubbish which had accumulated there.  Is the intention to re-start the roadblock or is it just readying the area for the coming rainy season?

On the way to Borin there is a flying roadblock and the owner of a car is being inspected, there was no way we could tell if it was the same car that we saw before.

Burin/Yitzhar

There is no military activity.

Za'tara/Tapuach

8:20 a.m. 

Soldiers (not Border Police) staff the checkpoint, they do not hold up the traffic.

Azzun Atma

8:40 a.m. 

Because of the late hour there are no Palestinians at all at the road block.  According to the Military Policeman it had been a particularly difficult morning because one of the computers is being repaired.  There had been a queue of hundreds crowded up against the turnstile which impeded it from working properly.  A young armoured corps soldier staffed the position beside him.

At Shomron Crossing the inspection was superficial as usual. 

Route 5.  Sha'ar Shomron, Kifl Haris, Qira, Jamma'in, Einabus, Hawwara, Awarta, Beit Furik and back.  15 September 2011

Translation: Suzanne O.

We drive through the end of summer scenery, pre-Palestinian State declaration.

All three of us took a break this summer from going to the territories and we were pleased to try out Route 5.

It is a week before the declaration of the Palestinian State and there are no obvious signs of what may/could happen here.  The Palestinians, like the Israelis, shrug their shoulders in a 'don't know' attitude, they have no faith in the fettered Abu Mazen and we have no faith in our government.  As promised in this morning's newspaper there is not much military presence, there are no new flags.  There is uncertainty in the air.

There are banners in red and black: "The down hill run will end at Migron" In Hawwara and Za'tara Junction giving hints of what may/could happen.

We follow road signs and the new maps which 'the trail blazers' Dalia and Tsvia prepared for us.  One drives, the second navigates, the third points out the wild flowers, dates and the lovely scenery.

Kifl Haris

The gate is open; we climb up the ridge and drive on winding, easy roads.

Qira directly overlooks Ariel.

Jamma'in

We were amazed at the size of the village.  Really it is a town.  When one thinks of how many years it was cordoned off …

Einabus

It absolutely borders on Hawwara.

Huwwara

It is full of life.  We turn in the direction of Odelia, Awarta.  A Border Police jeep stops traffic for a spot inspection on both sides of the road.  We didn't see it again later on.

The new fairground in Hawwara valley (in the direction of Beita): we alighted to see the miracle.  (It rivals the one above Hawwara)  We had a coffee with the owner– M.A. – who, with his two sons, invested 2 million of their own money to build it and are still in debt.  M told us with pride that the big wheel is 26 metres high, while that of their competitor on the hill opposite measures only 22 metres and, even in Tel Aviv, the big wheel is only 24 metres high…

The fairground was empty and clean and our hearts went out to M., who, while not yet making a profit, has a vision of amusing the children in the area and providing them with a place to have fun and feel comfortable.

Awarta

We went into the grocery store we are familiar with and met with our old friends.  We were offered dates.  We discovered a modern oil press next to the shop where they store the oil, bottle and pack it for export to Europe and the USA.  Preparations are well in hand for 15 October, the day the olive picking starts.  The expected yield this year is 'so so' 30%.

The oil press owners told us that the army warned them that next week there would be a roadblock on the road from Awarta, between the DCO and the Awarta roadblock.

Miki searched for little Malk's house, for whom she had obtained permission to be operated on in Israel through the 'Peres Peace Centre'.  We were delighted to meet the motherless beautiful little girl of 9 years of age.

Awarta roadblock

Closed.

Beit Furik village

As we arrived two military cars left.  The news today reported the burning of 3 cars in the village.  We drove along the fine road into the village and talked to inhabitants.  They told us that in the morning there had been a roadblock at the exit to the village.  The morning shift did not report a roadblock.

Beit Furik roadblock

There are no soldiers.

We returned via Hawwara, Za'tara/Tapuach Junction and Shomron Crossing.  We saw no particular military activity.

More banners shook us again:

• "The down hill run will end at Migron"
• Freedom is over – we salute Migron
• Against the Arabs and Leftist organisations – help the "Regavim" act
• Regavim guard your home
• Only one organisation has the teeth to deal with the Leftist organisations www.regavim.org.il