‘Azzun, Falamiya, Habla, Kufr Jammal, Tue 17.9.13, Morning
09:30 We arrived at the village of Nabi Elias to meet Hassan after Miriam and Mikki had been in contact with him. He’s the economic development advisor to 45 village communities in the area. We came to consult regarding activities with women and youths in area villages; we met in Baladiya. He’s a charming man, unusually welcoming. He suggested we begin with the Nabi Elias Women’s Club (he lives in Thult; he’s been head of the village for 14 years). If the arrangement succeeds it can be expanded to other area villages.
He immediately called and invited Wisal, coordinator of the “Nabi Elias Young Women’s Group.” While we waited for her we talked about the difficulties between Israelis and Palestinians. Neither of us wants to “put a pretty face on the occupation,” as he said, but it’s important to be aware of what can be useful to both sides, and undertake such activities.
Wissal arrived soon; Hassan translated for her from English to Arabic. She was willing to get involved. We told her what we could do and agreed to meet her again and talk specifically with the women themselves about what they’d want. We also agreed we’d try to learn/practice Arabic conversation with the help of women members of the group who are teachers.
10:30 Azzun. The checkpoint is open.
10:45 Falamya checkpoint. We drove along the fence which is to be moved soon (when?). The checkpoint is almost deserted at this hour except for a pickup truck loaded with sacks of za’atar and a few people crossing.
11:15 Kafr Jamal. We were happy to meet Nadim’s warm family, on his mother’s side. [They live both in Kafr Jamal and Tira. In ’48 his mother stayed in Tira and part of the family still lives there today.]
12:00 Habla. The checkpoint is still closed; no one is around.
We didn’t see any soldiers or military vehicles during our entire shift.
'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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Falamiya
See all reports for this placeHabla
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Habla CP (1393)
The Habla checkpoint (1393) was established on the lands of the residents of Qalqilya, on the short road that
connected it for centuries to the nearby town of Habla. The separation barrier intersects this road twice and cut off the residents of Qalqilya from their lands in the seam zone.(between the fence and the green line).
There is a passage under Road 55 that connects Qalqilya to the sabotage This agricultural barrier is used by the farmers and nursery owners established along Road 55 from the Green Line and on both sides of the kurkar road leading to the checkpoint.
This agricultural checkpoint serves the residents of Arab a-Ramadin al-Janoubi (detached from the West Bank), who pass through it to the West Bank and back to their homes. The opening hours (3 times a day) of this agricultural checkpoint are longer than usual, about an hour (recently shortened to 45 minutes), and are coordinated with the transportation hours of a-Ramadin children studying in the occupied in the West Bank.
Ronit Dahan-RamatiApr-25-2025Habla Checkpoint: system of gates
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Kufr Jammal
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Kufr Jammal This village, rising about 200 meters over sea level, is located about 14 kilometers south of Tul Karm town and about 17 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. The families living there since the mid-18th century number about 3,000 persons at present. The village has lost thousands of dunams of its northern and western lands due to the construction of the Separation Barrier, leaving the lands themselves behind the barrier. After the Israeli Supreme Court ruling in 2011, the barrier was moved to the west and many farmlands were returned to their owners. It is a quiet village, its relations with the nearby settler-colony of Sal’it are favorable, and many of the villagers work in the colony’s industrial plants. Farmers cross the agricultural checkpoint close to this settler-colony in order to tend their fields unhampered. However, there are numerous acts of harassment and disorder taking place when the village farmers cross the other agricultural checkpoints: gates do not open at hours suitable to the farmers’ needs, and for a short period of time only; the Civil Administration usually prevents all kinds of crops except olives; tractors and other farm equipment are forbidden entry; only a single permit is issued per family, and occasionally such permits are confiscated and their re-issue is delayed – the common excuse is usually “security reasons”. How do the villagers make their living? Holders of work permits inside Israel travel at 3 a.m. to Eyal Checkpoint near Qalqiliya town in order to make it on time to their workplace at Sal’it (close to their village) and elsewhere. Owners of vegetable patches who hold permits are allowed to reach their fields beyond the Separation Barrier through the distant Falamiya Checkpoint. Importantly, fields returned to the village show amazing improvement intending, irrigation and farming variety – and instead of the neglected olive tree groves that were accessible only to holders of transit permits through agricultural checkpoints usually closed, farming has now flourished. (updated Jan 2021)
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