Ein A-Rashash
We have been accompanying the community at Ein A-Rashash in north Binyamin for several years.  About five years ago the settlers from the outpost of Malachay Hashalom began to harass the villagers.  They came to attack them daily, and played music at such a high volume that it frightened the sheep and caused them to abort their lambs.   They prevented the shepherds from reaching the well with their flocks – often in cooperation with the army.   We escorted the shepherds but were unable to provide them with sufficient protection.  

Three years ago they gave up and began grazing their flocks only in the village, but that did not help.  A year and a half ago the settlers began entering the village and people’s homes, terrifying and terrorizing the residents, especially on Saturdays.  Young and old religious thugs would ride on their ATVs on the Sabbath (which is forbidden by religious Jewish law) with their fringes hanging out and their earlocks, and attack helpless people.  We, the activists in the Jordan Valley, began to remain there day and night to provide protection,  but with the outbreak of the war last October 7^th 2023 their enthusiasm increased and their harassment became more intense.  

We did not manage to provide the residents with constant protection, and they left because they were afraid for their children’s lives.  They simply left their land, their village, and their homes where they had lived all their lives.  They relocated to the larger nearby village of Duma, but they split into three communities on the outskirts of the village, and their community life was destroyed.

Hagar arranged to meet with some of the women from Ein Rashash to meet in a booth belonging to one of the women.  About 20 women of various ages arrived – one of whom had only joined the community a month ago after marrying one of the young men. The women came with many young children and high school girls also took part.  The atmosphere was warm and an intimate conversation took place about the eviction from the village and the difficulty of being separated from sisters, mothers, and friends who lived in other parts of Duma. This is a community where women seldom leave their homes.   They constantly asked us about Zanuta* and wanted to know if the residents had returned and if they were being attacked.  The return of the residents of Zanuta by court order gives them hope that they will also be able to return home.  Despite the sad situation it was a good meeting that gave us hope and feelings of solidarity and sisterhood. 

Hagar brought books to Ras al Ayn near Maayan el Uja after contacting librarians from the Bedouin sector in the southern Jordan Valley.  Every two weeks we bring new books and collect books that have been read.   The librarian’s family told us that they no longer graze their flocks in the fields but only in the village and bring the flocks to the well at Uja only occasionally.  If settlers come, they leave immediately.  Two weeks ago a settler came down from the nearby mountain near Kochav Hashachar and stole 150 sheep with the consent of the army.    Here, too, people live with terror and hopelessness.   

The family’s five sons left school after the fourth grade.  Their older daughter is studying at the University in Jericho and the younger daughter who was hiding shyly behind her father is an excellent student and also wants to study in the university.  

Maayanot Fasail – Representatives from the Parks and Nature Authority responded to our intervention and came and repaired the water pipe that the settlers had broken to prevent the residents of Fasil from obtaining the little water they can get.  We took J., the man who maintaining the water, and his son to check the water and the springs.  J and his son went into the water to remove rocks and resume the flow of water to the village.  We arranged with him for people from the organization “Looking the Occupation in the Eye” to go with him after arrangements will be made with the Nature and Parks Authority to clear away the brush and weeds in the streams.