'Azzun, Falamiya
Ramadan, Shavuot
‘Azzun
Our first stop. We drop off parcels at Z.’s shop. He’s doing better, and we’re happy.
Falamya north, checkpoint 914
12:45 The military vehicle arrives on time.
One person drives in briefly to open a water main. Just to be sure, the MP holds onto his ID.
12 people leave on foot (including two women), 5 on bicycles, 6 tractors, one car and a farmer riding a donkey. Most are young, speaking neither Hebrew nor English. After going through on foot they get rides on the tractors.One tells us that laborers fasting during Ramadan stay home, but landowners go to work half a day in their fields – they have no choice. The sacks on the tractors are stuffed with za’atar.
13:00 Everyone who had arrived crossed and the unit waits for the Palestinian who drove in to open the water main.
Falamya south checkpoint 935.
Many greenhouses along the way. Relocation of the fence had allowed farmers easier access to their lands and they utilize it to raise various crops. If only the High Court would order the dismantling of the walls separating the Palestinian farmers from their land, and allow them all to work and earn a living
13:20 The gate opens.
Entering: two people on foot, 1 tractor. Exiting: 1 car, 1 tractor
By 13:30, everyone had crossed.
'Azzun
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Azoun (updated February 2019)
A Palestinian town situated in Area B (under civil Palestinian control and Israeli security control),
on road 5 between Nablus and Qalqiliya, east of Nabi Elias village. The inhabitants are allowed to construct and improve infrastructures. The Separation Fence has confiscated lands belonging to the town's people. In 2018 olive tree groves owned by one of its inhabitants were confiscated for the sake of paving a road to bypass Nabi Elias. Azoun population numbers 13,000, its economic state dire. Its infrastructures are poor, neglect and poverty rampant. In the meantime, the town council has completed paving an internal road for the inhabitants' welfare.
Because of its proximity to the Jewish settler-colony of Karnei Shomron and its outposts, the town suffers the intense presence of the Israeli army, especially at nighttime: soldiers enter homes, arrest suspects, trash the house and sometimes ruin it, as they do in numerous places in the West Bank. At times a checkpoint closes the entrance to the town, so no one can come in or get out.
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Falamiya
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