Elkana settlement, Habla Checkpoint and Eyal Checkpoint: Vigil along the Separation Barrier between the settlement and the checkpoints

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Observers: 
Nurit Hadari and Karin Lindner (report and photos)
Dec-12-2024
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Morning

Vigil along the Separation Barrier between Elkana settlement, Habla Checkpoint and Eyal Checkpoint

The point of this vigil was to show and explain our new volunteer the occupation on the Israeli side of the Separation Barrier, acquainting with the seam zone and the problems it posed. The intentional construction of settlements among Palestinian localities several kilometers from the ‘green line’ and the will to leave them on the Israeli side of the barrier and enable their inhabitants to travel to and from Israel without crossing the West Bank checkpoints – have created large enclaves of Palestinian farmers’ land, that have lately turned into de facto annexation.

We drove from Rosh Ha’ayin Junction eastward on Road 5, explaining where the ‘green line’ and Jordanian border had been. Right before Shomron (Samaria) Checkpoint, we turned to the road leading to the colonies of Oranit, Sha’arei Tikva, Elqana, and Etz Efrayim. At the end our road, near Hani’s house next to Elqana, we saw a ‘security’ vehicle leaving the place.

A large gate has been erected in the fence on the Elqana side, instead of the large opening that had been there a month ago. Instead of the concrete blocks on the Masha side, now stands a huge new gate.

After explaining about Hani’s house that remained outside his village, Mas'ha, and separated from it by a high concrete wall, and the gate that used to serve Mas'ha farmers wishing to harvest their olives, we continued a bit northward on foot to see Etz Efrayim settlement which develops in the wadi and separates the neighboring Palestinian villages of Mas'ha and Saniriya.

We drove to Oranit settlement, with explanations about the fence that used to cross Azzun Atme, our vigils there, and the route changes and construction of the mighty wall. We stopped by Gate no. 4 that was not yet open, and does not enable the inhabitants of Azzun Atme to cross it daily to their fields around Oranit, as they used to before the present war. We stopped at the nursery of O., who owns a shop and nursery on the road leading to Kafr Qassem. He has not been home for six months now. This time he had his son with him, as the son finally received a permit to help his father in their field, for a short while. He arrives every day through Habla Checkpoint. The agricultural gatesinfo-icon at Abu Salman and Jal’ud had also not been opened for the past 14 months, and their inhabitants have lost their farming livelihood dependent on tending fields bordering on Oranit settlement.

We drove to Eyal Checkpoint that, like a month ago, is entirely closed at noontime. We continued to Tzofim Checkpoint. Crossed it without problems. Arrived at Qalqiliya Junction and from there to Road 55 and westward. Along the whole way we saw the earthworks on both sides of the road, meant to expand it. We crossed Eliahu Checkpoint, watched cars carefully inspected to the right of the checkpoint, we stopped for a short while at the instruction center adjacent to the checkpoint, but this time a security guard immediately approached us, demanding we leave. We continued to Habla Checkpoint. I explained the absurdity of the situation that requires Qalqiliya residents whose fields and nurseries are to the south of the road to drive all the way to the ‘green line’ and cross it, then drive inside Israeli territory to the gas station on Road 444, make a U-turn on road 55 and get to their nurseries, for in order to punish them Israel has annulled the two roundabouts that enabled them to reach their land inside the seam zone.

Because of a problem starting our car after stopping in the nursery, we reached the checkpoint only at 1:20 p.m. The place was deserted except for 3-4 girl-soldiers who said that very few vehicles cross it at noon (we saw only one very large truck during our stay). They waited until 1:30 p.m. and then locked the gates. We drove back for a short visit at O’s, who told us of the soldiers that enter Qalqiliya at night and prevent his family members from sleeping, about the booms of stun grenades and teargas suffocation, and about the youngster who was killed by live fire.

We came out at Alfei Menashe Junction and turned for a short drive to see the four villages that were now connected again to the West Bank after the fence was moved. We passed Arab A Ramadin village, caged outside the West Bank, between Alfei Menashe settlement and Road 55, its inhabitants disconnected from the West Bank, and returned to Tel Aviv.