Farsiya, Jordan Valley: "I only want freedom, security, and democracy"
We have been in Farsiya since 7 am in ‘protective presence’ (staying around the clock with the shepherd families in their homes). Tomorrow is Eid al-Adha and today there are no schools.
This week the herds moved with the shepherds to the Ein al Beida area, where there is more grazing during this period. This is a regular crossing, which is done every year at this time and continues until winter.
Only women, old people and children stay in the village. The protective shifts are kept in a continuous manner to protect them from any harm. Both in Farsiya and in Ein al-Beida.
In the WhatsApp group of the companions, there is a great commotion of requests to come and volunteer. Something could happen any moment. This is not just a feeling, it is real. Throughout the day we receive messages about settler violence. In Humsah there was an outbreak of violence. Settlers arrived on ATVs and I believe Dafna and Nava will send a report about it.
My shifts in Farsiya are known for being always quiet and only the laughter or crying of children is heard.
We engaged the children in mini-games, including Lego and puzzles. Their concentration and enjoyment are extraordinary. Throughout the morning. I spoke with the four women who remained, and in a frank conversation they raised their severe distress. The difficulty of being constantly under the terror of the settlers, in addition to the closing of the checkpoints that do not allow them to leave the Valley to visit their families, or for families to reach them. Curfew. “I just want freedom, security, and democracy,” one of them says to me, and then repeats it, emphatically.
We were in Khalet Makhul, and met with Rima and Ashraf. They said that yesterday morning soldiers entered Tammun and stayed there until the next day at 12. Three weeks before they killed 5 young local people. This time they destroyed a 3-story house, plowed the main road again, which they already destroyed a few months ago, and are not allowing it to be re-tarred. They cut the main pipeline of the agricultural area and who knows what else.
Location Description
Al-Farisiya / 'Ein a-sakut
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Al-Farisiya / 'Ein a-sakutA community of shepherds in the Jordan Valley opposite the settlement of "Rotem". Making a living from grazing sheep, the residents are exposed to harassment, abuse and theft from settlers who come to them from outposts and settlements in the area, and their grazing area is shrinking due to settler takeovers, fire zones and declared nature reserves.Machsom Watch companies participate in shepherd escort activities and provide a 24/7 protective presence, and there is continuous and warm contact with the community.
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Khalet Makhul
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Khalet Makhul
A small settlement of a shepherd community located on the way to the settlement of Hemdat. Two nearby outposts make life miserable for the Palestinians, who make a living from grazing, and the army backs the settlers. As a result, the possible grazing areas are getting smaller.
The local children attend school in the settlement of Ein Al-Beida. Long lines of 3 hours sometimes stretch out at the Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints leading to the town of Tubas, making it difficult to get water, supplies, and sell the cheese, milk, and meat that the residents produce for their living.
Following a deadly attack at the Tayasir checkpoint in February 2025, the checkpoint was closed completely for the time being.
(Updated March 2025)
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