Hamra (Beqaot), Jordan Valley, Khirbet Makhul, Tayasir
11 a.m. Bezeq Checkpoint – we cross into the Palestinian Jordan Valley.
It’s a gray day and the scenery is as spectacular as ever. The human landscape is sorely missed, diminishing day by day ‘thanks’ to the Israeli occupation.
Bardala/opposite En Al Beda- a group of soldiers next to an army jeep is busy making coffee. On our way back there were more soldiers and vehicles on the spot.
Rotem settler colony: a group of olive harvesters is working among the olive trees on the northern slope, beside the road leading up to the colony. The flag at the entrance to this area leaves no room for doubt who claims the land here. At the “outpost” south of the Rotem settler colony there are no new structures seen this time. We saw a vehicle towing a platform and a settler colonist at work.
The uphill road to Tyassir: opposite Hamam Al Malih soldiers were loading or unloading gear from a truck that carried the sign: “Knights of the North, Chosen to Lead”.
At the firing area, no soldiers in sight, only 3 cows (better this way…).
Tyassir Checkpoint – below the watchtower we see a vendor’s truck, bearing the sign “Beehive”, and a soldier holding a shopping bag. More soldiers came in sight later, on our way back from Al Aqaba. A bus picked them up.
Al Aqaba – we visited the local council house. We did not meet Haj Sami.
Allon Road – no news. The occupation does what the occupation always does.
Hamra Checkpoint – Soldiers man the watchtower above the junction. Passage is open to vehicles. The shuffle-dozer stands in the compound in its usual place. Near one of the cement blocks, we see 3 soldiers and a mini-tractor. They don’t seem busy with the vehicles driving through.
Khalat Makhoul – this time we sat together with B., his wife and young son. The girls go to school in Tamoun and live there. The older girls are in the university. B. told us about Daphne’s visit with her friends on Saturday, their concern with the demolition orders that might be enforced in the winter, and about the volunteers who accompany the shepherds to the grazing grounds. He told us that the settler colonist (near Umm Zuka) has cleared a plot of land owned by Palestinians, in an area that used to be grazed by them.
Bezeq Checkpoint – 13:40. We crossed into Israel. Not before assuring the soldiers that we’re fine…
Location Description
Bardala
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A relatively large township in Area B in the northern part of the Valley, home to about 300 families of farmers and other families. The villages of Bardala and Kardala, located nearby, sit on a very large reservoir of groundwater. In 1968, an "agreement" was signed between the occupier (represented by the Mekorot water company) and three villages (including Ein al-Bida), stipulating that in exchange for their agreement to stop pumping water their wells, Mekorot would establish its own pumping stations on their land and allocate them a "generous" quota of waterinfo-iconfor at the cost of pumping only (a few cents per cubic meter). Over the years, Mekorot violated the agreement, decreased the quotas drastically (from 240 cubic meters per hour to 100 and sometimes 40 cubic meters), and quadrupled the price. The residents refused to pay, and the PA paid for them. In late 2024, the army began paving a new road around Karbala and Bardala. According to the plan, the road will surround and Karbala from the south and Bardala from north and west, and finally turn east to Highway 90. The road will completely surround Bardala on all sides, cutting off the village from all its lands and imprisoning the village within its boundaries. The residents will no longer be able to come and work their lands freely. Our friends were unable to see the roadworks because the army had set up a checkpoint on the road to the new route.
Jun-21-2025The boys go down to the shepherd's S. living area (Photo Eran Maoz)
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Hamra (Beqaot)
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One of the Jordan Rift Valley checkpoints that prevent direct transit between the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, in addition to Tayasir Checkpoint. Located next to Hamra settlement, on Route 57 and the Allon Road.
Read about the peple of the Jordan Valley and the quiet transfer happening there.
Shahar ShiloahNov-3-2021Ein Shibli: grazing begins close to home
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Jordan Valley
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Jordan Valley The Jordan Valley is the eastern strip of the West Bank. Its area consists of almost a third of the West Bank area. About 10,000 settlers live there, about 65,000 Palestinian residents in the villages and towns. In addition, about 15,000 are scattered in small shepherd communities. These communities are living in severe distress because of two types of harassment: the military declaring some of their living areas, as fire zones, evicting them for long hours from their residence to the scorching heat of the summer and the bitter cold of the winter. The other type is abuse by rioters who cling to the grazing areas of the shepherd communities, and the declared fire areas (without being deported). The many groundwaters in the Jordan Valley belong to Mekorot and are not available to Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley. The Palestinians bring water to their needs in high-cost followers.Jun-21-2025The boys go down to the shepherd's S. living area (Photo Eran Maoz)
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Khalet Makhul
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Khalet Makhul
A small settlement of a shepherd community located on the way to the settlement of Hemdat. Two nearby outposts make life miserable for the Palestinians, who make a living from grazing, and the army backs the settlers. As a result, the possible grazing areas are getting smaller.
The local children attend school in the settlement of Ein Al-Beida. Long lines of 3 hours sometimes stretch out at the Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints leading to the town of Tubas, making it difficult to get water, supplies, and sell the cheese, milk, and meat that the residents produce for their living.
Following a deadly attack at the Tayasir checkpoint in February 2025, the checkpoint was closed completely for the time being.
(Updated March 2025)
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Tayasir CP
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Located on road 5799, It is one of the checkpoints control the passage between the northern West Bank and the Jordan Valley. For a long time, it stood empty and open, with only a sign next to it warning against entering Area A. It was adjacent to an old military camp - now everything is neglected. How much money was invested here, and how much brainwashing was done to the soldiers of Netzah Yehuda and Kfir.
Today, it is very difficult to pass there. Many delays. Often, teachers from Tubas are not allowed to pass into the Valley to villages like Ein al-Bida where the local schools are located, and there are no classes. There are additional days when the checkpoint is closed. In general, there is a wait there of about two to four hours to go towards the Valley and also to return. Many times the Palestinians are forced to use the Hamra checkpoint, which also leads into Tubas and the West Bank, but there is also a huge queue there and a long wait.
Following a deadly attack on soldiers at the nearby base in February 2025, the checkpoint was completely closed for the time being. (Updated March 2025)
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