‘Azzun ‘Atma, Thu 12.8.10, Morning
Translation: Suzanne O.
It is the beginning of both Ramadan and the winter clock in Palestine. There is nothing new at the roadblock.
6:20 a.m.
At Azun Atma we sorely missed the sergeant who moved people through the crossing with great efficiency two weeks ago. Today the sleeve is excessively full and the Military Policewomen in charge of the turnstile are in no hurry to activate it. We tried to persuade the two soldiers and the Military Policeman with them to allow two labours to wait on the other side of the turnstile so that they could save time instead of needless walking all the way round. According to the soldiers they are waiting from orders from on high. What a pity the Chief of Staff was busy with the Tirkel Committee and so was not available to allow them to hasten the crossing process.
Most of the time they were busy discussing whether to permit a donkey and its owner – who cross every day – to cross today as well. We were there close to an hour and nothing was agreed. The donkey didn't cross, the queue didn't get shorter and the crossing arrangements were not eased.
As we have said more than once – the power of a single soldier at a roadblock is great and not always used for good.
The labourers waiting for transport told us that there had been problems on the other side of the roadblock today. According to them there have been no problems for a long time but now there are difficulties again. We asked the soldiers who said that there have been no changes in orders. Does anyone cross the Azun Atma roadblock on the other side?
'Azzun 'Atma
See all reports for this place-
'Azzun 'Atma
A Palestinian village of about 1,800 residents. The settlement of Sha'arei Tikva was established on its land adjacent to it, and the settlement of Oranit was established on its agricultural lands. By 2013, the separation fence had passed through the village and a checkpoint staffed by the army allowed the residents to cross from side to side. After building a massive wall surrounding the village and some of its agricultural lands, the residents went daily for five years to their lands that remained in the Seam Zone through the Oranit agricultural checkpoint (4). Since 2018 it has only opened during the olive harvest and the farmers have to pass daily at the Beit Amin / Abu Salman checkpoint (1447), about 3 kilometers north.From a report from March 24, 2021: "The farmers from Beit Amin and Azon Atma are happy that since February 21 the Oranit checkpoint .is going to be open 3 times a day, The farmers are really developing the place."
Report from July 14, 2024: "Ornit checkpoint is closed . The Beit Amin/Abu Salman agricultural checkpoint is closed (there is no contact with the military to check if it opens rarely), the Ezbat Jaloud checkpoint was opened once a day before the war.
Updated for July 2024
Apr-11-2019Azoun: The main entrance to village blocked now for several weeks
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