Habla
The terror and fear caused by uncertainty about the behavior of the Israeli army and its violence affect every Palestinian man and woman. Jewish Israelis have felt more afraid in recent weeks as a result of violent acts by individual Palestinian youths. The checkpoint, its devices and its soldiers, is the physical representation of the military violence. On our way to the Habla checkpoint we wondered whether the fear and violence would be even more palpable when we arrived. We found instead a parallel universe.
The checkpoint itself operated “normally”: people with Israeli work permits and those working in the plant nurseries or on land expropriated “de-facto” from Habla were inspected and crossed in groups of five or six; the vehicles transporting teachers and pupils went through without delay; so did drivers of cars and carts. Four of those waiting to leave Habla were sent back after inspection.
After everyone had crossed, the checkpoint closed at 07:45.
Unlike the “checkpoint routine,” the existential distress experienced by Palestinians, including those seemingly privileged, was harshly expressed in conversation with W. after the checkpoint closed. On the one hand, strong ties with Jews in the area haven’t been undermined even in recent days. On the other hand, feelings of anger and affront because of the ongoing discrimination and oppression to which all Palestinians are subjected: it’s one country, we’re all connected, Jews and Moslems eat the same food (according to the laws of kashrut), but the people higher up aren’t interested in cooperation.
That’s something to think about.
Habla
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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.
Nina SebaAug-18-2025Habla: The gate is in the process of closing
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