Tayasir, Za’tara (Tapuah), Sun 16.10.11, Morning
Summary
*We have been told that security official of Maskiyot colony drives his vehicle wildly though a Bedouin encampment. He topples down the tent dwelling of a 90-year old man. Is this another harassment of Bedouins living near the colony, who are afraid to ?complain
*Gochia Gate is not opened. This happens maby times. Thus, tractors to the west of Alon Road are denied passage. Unlike them, colonists’ mini-tractors bypass this gate without any problems, and not for any work purposes but for simple fun.
*The Tyassir checkpoint commander helped us out with our car at a difficult moment.
11:30 Tapuach Junction Checkpoint
Manned with soldiers checking vehicles coming from Huwwara Checkpoint (Nablus).
No waiting line.
11:40 Qusra Village
There have not been any exceptional events this past week. Today is the first day of the olive harvest. School children are off and we see whole families harvesting their olive trees all along the way.
12:05 Maale Efrayim Checkpoint – No soldiers in sight.
12:20 Hamra Checkpoint
No vehicles seen at the checkpoint. A single truck carrying vegetables comes from the west. We did not stay.
Mekhora colony has largely expanded its farming area, both with fruit groves and with fields freshly plowed for the sowing season.
At Kadri’s, below Maskiyot colony:
At the foot of the hill occupied by Maskiyot is a small spring where the shepherds used to water their flocks as they return from their grazing areas. Among other forms of harassment practiced by the Maskiyot colonists against their Bedouin neighbors, they also chase the shepherds away from the water source. One should note that Maskiyot have no flocks and this is not a battle over water, especially since all the Jewish colonies receive cheap water from Mekorot (National) water company, while the Bedouins must purchase and transport water at least ten times more expensive. So this is pure harassment. There was a time when the shepherds were too afraid to approach the spring. Two days ago, apparently, someone did bring his flock to the water and then, as we have been told, the colony’s security official – arrived and began to drive amok with his vehicle. He entered the tent of the family’s grandfather – 90 years old – and destroyed it, then drove wildly around the sheep pen.
Every time we visit this encampment we hear about Maskiyot settlers’ harassment,and especially by Rami. The army authorities in this area must be backing him up and he takes the liberty to do as he pleases. The Bedouins are too afraid to lodge complaints. When they did dare to do so, local army officials backed him up. Thus too in the spring instance, as well as a case where he demanded that a family living near the colony be expelled. No doubt it is the colonists’ interest to distance the Palestinians living nearby. The land is registered officially under the name of the family living on it, so that the colonists apparently want to terrorize them away. And the army? Perhaps it shares their interests?
We were told there of another incident: 3 camels belonging to a Bedouin living around Jericho had run off. 3 days later they were found in the olive groves of Rotem Colony. The local security official summoned the police. He claimed the camels had damaged his fruit grove. The policeman (Nissim) arrived and demanded the Bedouin owner of the camels pay a fine of 1300 NIS, without any court proceedings, or else he’d be detained at the Maale Efrayim police station. The man is scheduled for trial. A penniless Bedouin who certainly has no funds to pay for a lawyer will stand trial in an Israeli court, sued by the colony and its lawyers (whom it can afford) – there is no official body that can come to his aid. He speaks no Hebrew, knows nothing of Israeli legal proceedings, and all this assuming (wrongly?) that the court would treat both parties equally.
Another face of Israeli Occupation.
While we were there, Aref Darajma arrived, head of the local authority of the Northern West Bank.
14:15 Tyassir Checkpoint
Here, too, there was hardly any traffic today. Just an occasional vehicle now and then. When we needed to leave, we couldn’t get our car started. An unpleasant situation…
We sought help from the checkpoint commander, a second lieutenant, who willingly assisted. After a few attempts on his part and another soldier’s, the engine yielded and we drove off.
15:00 Gochia Checkpoint
As often happens lately, at least ever since the combat demolition corps men have manned this area, the checkpoint was not opened. We called Zaharan of the DCO. He spoke with whoever he needed to, and was told that a jeep was sent to open the gate, but the jeep never arrived. In other words, he was lied to.
For several months now the Bedouins do not come to this gate because no one opens it for them even in the officially allotted opening times – for half an hour twice a day three times a week. On the other hand, a pack of 4 fancy mini-tractors, such as affluent suburban Israeli kids would be proud to flaunt, bypassed the gate without any hesitation. The machines and the boys with their helmets and brand sports wear. The good life of the settler kids, indeed, contrasted with the dire poverty of the surrounding population. Would they have been prosecuted too for bypassing the gate?
16:00 Maale Efrayim Checkpoint – Unmanned.
16:15 Tapuach Junction Checkpoint – Vehicles coming from Huwwara are checked. 4 cars waiting in line. Soldiers spread a barbed wire roll along the middle of the roundabout for some unclear reason.
Gochya
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Gochya checkpoint, which is opposite Beqaot settlement, is a metal bar blocking a dirt road in the Jordan Valley that prevents residents living in the eastern Jordan Valley from travelling freely to the western Jordan Valley and back again. This checkpoint, which is supposed to open only three times a week for half an hour (and usually doesn’t open at all), prevents residents living in the eastern Jordan Valley from accessing the town of Tamun, for example, which serves as a regional urban center. They’re prevented from maintaining contact with family members, obtaining medical treatment, getting to school and shopping, etc. Children from the eastern Jordan Valley are compelled to live during the week with families in Tamun to insure they are able to attend school regularly. The locals must make long detours, and risk severe punishment if they’re caught. In order to prevent them from bypassing the checkpoint, the IDF dug a series of long, deep ditches around the checkpoint and created very high earthen berms.
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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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Za'tara (Tapuah)
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Za'tara (Tapuah) Za'tara is an internal checkpoint in the heart of the West Bank, at the intersection of Road 60 and Road 505 (Trans-Samaria), east of the Tapuah settlement. This checkpoint is the "border" marked by the IDF between the north and south of the West Bank, in accordance with the policy of separation between the two parts of the West Bank that has been in place since December 2005. At the Za'tara checkpoint, there are separate routes for Israelis and Palestinians. In the route for Israelis, there are no inspections and the route for Palestinians inspects. The queue lengthens and shortens suits. The checkpoint is open 24 hours a day. The checkpoint is partially staffed and the people who pass through it are checked at random.
Shoshi AnbarSep-27-2023Za'atra (Tapuah Intersection). Signs
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