Eliyahu Crossing, Habla, Jayyus, Tue 23.10.12, Afternoon

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Observers: 
Alix Weizmann (photographing), Shoshi Inbar (reporting) Translator: Charles K.
Oct-23-2012
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Afternoon

We begin by bringing parcels of children’s clothing to ‘Arab al Ramadin. Many children in the alleys of
the Bedouin locality – all the Palestinian Authority’s employees are on strike for two days (today and
tomorrow) because they haven’t been paid. Wherever we went today the streets were full of children.

10:45 Eliyahu crossing – Only one car being inspected. Traffic flows in both directions.

Izbet Tabiv – The shelter erected by those demonstrating against the demolition orders issued to the
school that had been built opposite the town hall/school, is empty. The building is closed and locked.
We meet our friend Musa at his home to buy more olive oil. This year’s harvest was meager; he said it
was because there wasn’t much rain in February and March.

Demonstrators occupy the shelter each evening. On Friday, November 2, they plan a large
demonstration at 11 AM there against demolishing the school and paving a new road on their land.
Israeli Knesset members have been invited, in addition to the Palestinians, as well as all their supporters,
of course.

When his daughter, who’s six, was nine months old she contracted meningitis, underwent a number of
operations, and is scheduled for another at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. It costs $14,000. The Palestinian
Authority will pay 60% of the cost; the family must cover the remainder. “Even if I sell the house I won’t
have enough money for the operation,” Musa says.

11:35 Khirbet Asla – We meet a pleasant elderly man who speaks fluent Hebrew. He tells us he worked
in Nelo’s Roumanian restaurant in Jaffa for 27 years. “How are things?,” we ask. “Thank God,” he
replies.

We continue north through Khirbet Sir

11:50 Jayyous – M. tells us soldiers keep coming by day and by night, and the children keep throwing
rocks at them. The occupation routine.

12:15 – Kafr Abush – The army comes at night from time to time. In the morning, at the Tulkarm
crossing, the army pulls drivers from their vehicles and detains them for many hours, making them late
for work.

12:45 Kafr Sur – We’re happy to meet a student studying engineering in Tulkarm who speaks a little
English. A few weeks ago the army entered the village and searched seven homes; they also set off
flares. He offers to take us around the village, proudly shows us the old site where the first residents
settled one hundred years ago where there’s still a tab’u - a traditional oven - and a place where they
made oil.

We stop to view Sla’it; the security road winds on our left.

 

Sla’it’s is astoundingly close to Kafr Sur. It’s lands are located beyond Sla’it. Some residents of the
village didn’t receive permits for the harvest; they’re forced to leave the olives on the trees (our host
doesn’t know exactly how many).

We turn south to Azzun and return to Highway 55.

13:40 – Habla – The gate is open; no lines at the crossings.