‘Azzun, Falamiya, Jubara (Kafriat), Tue 23.7.13, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
09:30 We left from the Rosh Ha’Ayin train station.
09:45 Azzun. The checkpoint at the entrance is open. No military presence.
10:00 We approach the Falamya agricultural gate. A long excavation visible on the opposite ridge. A new fence? A pickup truck belonging to the Palestinian Authority is parked at the entrance to the gate. Two young men, from the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, sit inside. Their job is to inspect the agricultural lands. How long have they been at the entrance? About two hours. Why don’t they enter? They show us their individual permits from the DCO, which they received as employees of the Palestinian Authority. They’re perfectly valid and allow them through to the lands. We speak to a male and a female soldier at the gate, ask why the delay. They explain very seriously: “Yes, these two people are permitted to enter, but not their vehicle.” Why? “Because it has no permit…”
We return to the prohibited vehicle. They say the Ministry of Agriculture has a number of vehicles. When they go out on the job in the morning they’re given one, randomly. So they have no way of arranging a vehicle permit in advance. So they sit wasting time each day. The same thing occurs not only at Falamya but also at Tzofin, Habla, Jayyous. After a while the call comes from the DCO: the vehicle is approved. The daily harassment ended well today…
We continue north, passing Falamya village on the way. Vegetable gardens are planted among the houses. A large, impressive school building. Greenhouses on both sides of the road leading out of the village.
10:45 Jubara. Both checkpoints at the entrance to the village have been removed, the second a month ago. Their traces are still visible on the ground. We stop at the municipal building. A number of people wait for the head of the municipality; we join them. We have a quick talk with him. We learn that almost all the village lands are defined as Area C. They have olive groves beyond the fence. Residents receive permits to access their land only once a year, during the olive harvest. Their biggest problem at present is the cost of water. The village has a well and pump that runs on fuel oil. To reduce expenses they want to switch to an electric pump. But despite the fact that the well is on their land, (Area C) they need a permit from the occupation authorities in Beit El. And it doesn’t arrive.
Otherwise, says the head of the municipality, there are no problems with the settlers or the army.
We’d have to arrange another meeting to receive more detailed information.
On the way back: Three soldiers stationed at the Te’anim checkpoint. We see no vehicles.
11:30 Back to Rosh Ha’Ayin.
'Azzun
See all reports for this place-
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.
-
Falamiya
See all reports for this placeJubara (Kafriat)
See all reports for this place-
The Jabra checkpoint was on Road 557, south of Tulkarm, on the side of the Figs Pass, which is located within the Palestinian Authority (a few kilometers east of the Green Line), and serves as an entry barrier from the territories to Israel. The checkpoint to the village of Jubara, which until 2013 was in the seam area, blocked and surrounded by a fence, was intended for the passage of the family members of the house next to the checkpoint, and also for the MachsomWatch volunteers (with special permission only), on their way to checkpoint 753. on the other side of the village. The soldiers supervising the "fig crossing" also supervised the crossing at this checkpoint, in our shifts we often waited a long time until the key was found and the gate opened. The checkpoint was abolished and became part of the separation fence that was moved west following the High Court.
-