Falamiya, Jayyus, Kufr Jammal
Jayyus, Falamya, Kafr Jammal
Natalie Cohen, Naomi Bentsur (reporting), Nadim (driver). Maya (translator)
09:15 We dirve through Nabi Ilyas. It is quiet, stores open carrying on regular daytime activities. The ‘Azzun CP is open, but a manned military jeep is parked on its right. There is a new water pipe on the dirt path, which is long and windy, to Jayyus; some of it is above ground some underneath. Not far from it is a vehicle of the Electrical Company. Some workers are working on one of the poles. We drive in parallel to the fence line that once marked the border between the West Bank and Israel. After some of the stolen lands were returned, the border crept westward, towards Kochav Yair and Tsur Yigal. Several Palestinians are tearing up pieces of concrete slabs that used to support the fence. A large Caterpillar stands nearby, apparently for leveling out the area. The remnants of the old Falamya CP have not been removed yet, and they litter the ground. At the entrance to Falamya are some small cultivated fields. The hyssop harvest is laid out on canvas to dry. There are no military vehicles along the road.
10:30 Kafr Jammal. In contrast to Falamya, whose houses are in area B whereas its lands are in area C, in this village the remainders of land are also area B. Why "remainders"? Before the 1948 war the village lands included the areas that are now Kochav Yair, Sal'it, Tsur Natan, and more, all the way to Tira. The lands were confiscated in steps: First stage after 1948, second stage after 1967.
In the small village store one can see the aftermath of the recent war in Gaza: by popular demand Israeli goods have been replaced by goods from Turkey, Jordan, and West Bank cities such as Hebron and Tulkarem.
We drive to see the kindergarten, which is in a nice new building that also serves as a club. A happy crowd of sweet kids emerge, some holding out their hands for a handshake, the bolder one's asking for a KIF, and as in any group of children, the shy ones stand to the side, not participating. On the wall in the director's office is a photo of the soccer team of the village youngsters, testifying to good activities.
On the way back, the military jeep is still parked at the ‘Azzun entrance. Unlike the massive military presence we encountered during the war, this presence is minimal today.
We returned to Rosh Ha'Ayin at 12:30