Nabi Ilyas
Translation: Tal H.
10:00 Several free moments were used to have an interesting conversation with W. and R. about the tensions between Hamas and Fatah, the current situation in the Gaza Strip vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority, and the desired solution of ending the Israeli Occupation. W. told about her family in Gaza whom she met for the last time at her brother's wedding seven years ago. Both women talked about the harsh conditions there – the shortage of electricity, water, food, the high rate of unemployment and the harsh and sometimes violent treatment of Fatah members by Hamas. R. Said she supports the solution of one state for two peoples. She does not believe that Palestine has a chance to exist independently. She is angry about landgrab and said that while she is kept from building on her own land, the Jewish settlers are free to do so. She told about arbitrary arrests of her family members by the Israeli military. We wished each other that the Occupation end already.
After about 15 minutes, other women joined us and we began our class. We practiced vocabulary, learned new words, the women talked amongst themselves. During the class another young woman joined us whom I had met last time there, who is also interested in learning. The class proceeded cheerfully and enjoyably as always.
R. and W. were very disappointed to hear that we would not be able to begin teaching the children English next Friday. A group of 50 children are impatiently waiting for these classes. We shall try to get organized for the coming week.
11:45 Class over, we returned to Israel.
A-Nabi Elias
See all reports for this place-
A-Nabi Elias this is a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank, east of Qalqilia on Road 55, north-east of Alfei Menashe colony and west of Karnei Shomron colony and the Palestinian city of Nablus. As of 2016, the village was populated by 1,458 inhabitants.
Near the village is a maqam (holy site memorializing a sanctified person) - the prophet Elisha. Until 2021 Road 55 crossed the village. Then a bypass road was paved through olive groves that were sequestered from the villagers. Consequently, the farmers were left with small olive groves that they could not access nor cultivate. Inhabitants protested against the road for weeks, supported by peace activists, but nothing helped and the road is now a given fact.
The village's main street had been a shopping center for all residents, including colonists. We even saw a Kashrut (kosher food) inspector in a butcher shop close to the falafel stand… The bypass road, according to tradesmen, has impacted their businesses and clients, while others claim that there are customers now for parking has become easier.
Alfei Menashe and Tzofim colonies nibble at the village lands from the north and south and get closer to it all the time. Colonists of Alfei Menashe have outdone themselves, sending their surplus sewage from the oxygenation pools toward a-Nabi Elias land, even reaching the houses.
The villagers are known as seekers of peace. For years there was no hostility towards Israelis. On the contrary, we were always welcomed warmly and stopped there to enjoy their delicious, inexpensive falafel.
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