Azzun - excavations to level the land as preparation for massive construction
One must be amazed on the way to ‘Azzun by the road-widenings underway, the plaza at the entrance to Qalqiliya and by the excavations to level the southern slope of the hill from Tzofin. It appears to be preparatory work for massive construction:
I arrived at a later hour than usual with a car full of goods for the shop. All the workers are on their way home.
‘Azzun is becoming an urban village, filling with stores that are such an unusual sight in this neglected area. Are we on the verge of a more stable economic situation?
The military command car is at the entrance, as usual, stopping cars randomly for inspection.
'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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