CP 300, Al Khadr and Wallaje

Bethlehem--tues. Jan. 25,05 PMObservers: Yael I.., Maya B., Michaela R. and Ilana D. (reporting)Michaela was asked to join us to help with the investigation of theproblems facing the population of Wallaje. Bethlehem CP 300, 14:30 PM.There were only sporadic pedestrians passing throughthe metal detectors. No cars waited in the direction of Bethlehem and of thesuper four-lane highway only one narrow lane was used to let the trafficfrom Bethlehem pass extremely slowly. Unless full Egged buses with worshipers on their way to Rachel's Tomb happened in the vicinity andextra space was provided. We were looking against the sun and thus initiallydidn't see what held up the long line noticeable from afar. A man was loiteringin the middle of the road and very reluctantly the Commander of CP 300 toldus that he had a V.A.T. debt and that his car (a cab) had been taken fromhim. A woman and man who claimed to have the proper authorization told usthat the fact that he has paid up does not show on the computer. His bossarrived with documents showing that he has no debt, but it was too late. Thenext day they can apply to Givat Shaul and try to release the taxi. OhadKhemo of the TV was called and told us that this procedure appears to be legal.A tourist guide dropped off three tourists and returned to her car.Al Khadr, 15:20 PM. The usual busy tumult with lots of buses, transitsand yellow cabs. Young kids selling coffee squeezed their way through the crowds. No army presence whatsoever.Wallaje 15:45 PM Mostafa was waiting for us near his house and joined us for aride through the village trying to explain yet once more how the village was built and how it consists of three parts. The old village of Wallaje(before 1948) was located underneath the present-day Aminadav. Most of its landwas across the wadi and railroad tracks, which was later to become no-man's land. The people fled to various locations. Mostafa's father to the OldCity and Mostafa himself was born in the Jewish Quarter in 1960. One of his uncles fled to Acre and still lives there. Most people were afraid to approach their land due to the proximity of the border and their fear ofthe Jews. However, when the families had to move from the Jewish Quarter in1964 and were given as option to move to Anata Refugee Camp. Mostafa's fatherpreferred to move his family to a small one-room construction, which wasnear the border in the part of the village, which is called AinJawaizeh. When he got some money from two of his sons who worked in Kuwait hebuilt a house higher up near where Mostafa and his family still live. UNRWAassisted and the UNRWA elementary school is next door. From there a road went upto Cremisan, but the army blocked it. All inhabitants are descendants ofonly a few old-timers who all owned land in Ain Jawaizeh, that part of thevillage which is closest to Jerusalem and has been annexed. None of thevillagers has blue Id. cards and none ever paid arnona (taxes) to the Jerusalem Municipality. They receive services from the Palestinian authority, the garbage is collected from Bethlehem and most children attend schools inBeit Jalla. Until 1985 building permits were requested and received withoutany problem from the Military Government. Since then no permits wereobtained.The inhabitants of Ain Jawaizeh have been harassed most, not only with demolition orders and arrest, but huge fines and confiscation of theircars. But also the other two parts of the village are threatened by theland-grab, since only a very small part of the village is considered Area B. Thus,cars crossing the imaginary line into the "Jerusalem" part of the village canbe impounded since they have no yellow number plates. But if they were in possession of Israeli number plates their owners would not be allowed todrive them.Mohammed, whose house over an old shack belonging to his father amidstolive groves is all the way at the bottom of the village, invited us to a cupof tea. The house was demolished, he has to pay a huge fine and wasarrested and kept in Kishon jail for two weeks. Any vehicle transporting buildingmaterial is immediately arrested by the Border Police. We concluded thatwe should join forces with the other organizations to try and lobby for therights of the population of Wallaje.