Nabi Ilyas
10:10 – We arrived a bit late and many children were already waiting outside, as well as R. and S. of the women who participated in previous lessons and whose number diminished with time. A group of about 17 boys, mostly 13-year olds entered the classroom. S. kept things orderly and helped with translation. As an opening class, Brenda told about herself and asked for the names of the boys, most of them brothers and cousins form about 4 families. The boys cooperated and behaved better than might be expected of 13-year olds. The class ended with a song which the children learned enthusiastically and with bursts of laughter.
11:00 – the girls’ class: about 20 girls arrived, ages 22-12, but R. sorted things out and removed some of them (it was not clear why, they were of the same age group). The girls are serious and carefully dressed. Their lesson was similar to that of the boys and they seemed pleased. I was impressed with the way Brenda taught the class and aroused the children’s interest.
12:00 – we went to the home of one of the village women, to buy some of the cheese she produces. She was busy with her two small children, making za’atar (a spice mixing thume leaves, sesame and olive oil). We were offered tea and wafers and bought cheese. Again we felt the problem of language that so encumbers our communication. As we exited the village a very large group of men faced us, at that moment leaving the mosque. Those were a few unpleasant moments.
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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