‘Azzun ‘Atma, Thu 7.5.09, Afternoon
16:30 About 50 workers returning from work stand one behind the other in a winding line that stretches to the middle of the road. Two female soldiers face them. They yell, “Get back; no one goes through until you move back.” Those at the front move back. The soldiers keep yelling, “Back,” though it isn’t clear where the people are supposed to move “back” to. Inspections aren’t being carried out. More soldiers arrive, police, four youths are detained, released. The long line of people who have been waiting is no longer a single line, like it’s supposed to be. The army starts organizing things: “If you don’t form a straight line, you won’t go through. Make a single line.” The Palestinians have already lost patience, and don’t obey. The atmosphere is tense. We called the humanitarian office, and apparently orders came down to forget about the drill being perfect. In any case, in order not to give the impression of surrender, one of the soldiers explains, “OK, at least move off to the side so cars can go by.” The compromise is accepted. The inspection finally is carried out quickly, and in a few minutes the workers are allowed to go home.
'Azzun 'Atma
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'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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