Barta'a-Reihan, Hermesh, Tura-Shaked, Ya'bed-Dotan

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Observers: 
Marina Banai, Ruthi Tuval (reporting) Chana Stein translating
Apr-7-2019
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Afternoon

15.30-17.15

 

Hermesh checkpoint is not manned. We turned right on to the dirt road to marvel at the field of Anthemis, and after about 300 meters , past a low hill, we discovered a small Beduin encampment with a sheepfold and a fine wolfhound. We waved greetings and on the way back, we met a tractor driver, returning home from his day’s work at the Hermesh settlement. He was happy to chat with us. It turned out that he is from a Turkmani tribe, whom the ottomans settled in the 18th century in western Jezreel Valley. Their village was Abu Zarik, on whose land the Kibbutz Hazorea now stands. In ’48, they were banished/fled to northern Shomron. (In Wikipedia … abandoned during the War of Independence.). They number about 20,000 souls and live mostly in Yabed village and surroundings. His grandfather is buried in the Muslim cemetery at the foot of Tel Yokneam, where I wander about every day. … we were happy to hear that they have electricity by means of solar heating, a system supplied by the European Community. We got details from him of the Palestinian contact person to the EC and gave these details to the single family in Hirbet R’adiyah (near Tura) which has not yet succeeded in obtaining such a system.

Yabed-Dotan checkpoint – Light traffic, flows without delay.

Barta’a-Reihan checkpoint – At 4.30 p.m. small groups of workers return to the West Bank. At the exit from the new building there are drivers waiting for them, as well as the two little brothers with their thermos flasks of coffee.

Tura-Shaked checkpoint – Quiet, as usual.