Tapuah Junction. Harsaf Junction, Kfar Yassif, Kfar Iskaka, Ariel Junction
A tour in the occupied territories:
09:15 – We leave Rosh Ha'Ayin train station.
09:40 – Passing through Tapuah Junction – all quiet.
10:10 – Stopping at Kfar Yassif. Descending from the car we watch the hill opposite. At the foot of the hill there is an olive grove in which we notice a flock of goats nibbling the trees. The damage to the trees is of course big. An inhabitant of the village who accompanied us said that the olive plantation belongs to the Missif family, whereas the goats belong to a settler fromTapuah. The settler claims that this is his land, as it was given to him by God…
We met three young people (two girls from Switzerland and one man from Norway) who belong to the Eappy Organisation. We conversed with them in English. They got a visa for three weeks only and it can't be extended. They tour the Territories, the checkpoints, the villages and more and report to social networks and on the internet. They also report to the UN. They told us that they attempted to reach the olive grove and to talk with the settlers, but that the road there had been blocked.
We drove to the Council. The three from the Eappy Organisation accompanied us and there we continued our conversation with them. They said that in their opinion the situation in the occupied territories is sad and difficult. What sometimes causes happiness is to see with what force the Palestinians hold on in spite of everything and manage their life well.
The man from the council (English speaking) told us that the settlers fell trees and that probably "they have a plan what to do with the plots of the felled trees". Four families in the village were gravely affected by the devastation of the olive groves. He pointed out that 60% of the plots of the village are olive groves. He also pointed out that most of the families can come to work at the plantations twice a year only.
11:00 – We drove to Iskaka. We arrived directly at the Council where we met the Council's auditor. He told us that he was from Qatar and therefore he speaks English, and that he spends the whole day at the Council. Most of his family is still in Qatar. He says that there are about 1500 inhabitants of the village who live there, and about the same number who live out of Palestine.
He told us that a few days ago three children took a walk and approached a settlement. The settlers stopped them immediately. Two who were about 14 years old were released a hours later, and the third, who is 17 years old, was detained for a few days. The grownups don't know what happened there and the children don't tell, but since then the army visits the village every day. He said that the settlers didn't confiscate many plots from his village.
There is only one school in the village for grades 1-7. The classes are mixed – boys and girls. From grade 8 till the end of high school they study at Yassif where there is one school for girls and another for boys. In the village there is only one kindergarten – a private one.
When we were about to leave, the head of the council arrived. We introduced ourselves and told him that we would return.
12:00 – We drive to Rosh Ha'Ayin. In the square of Ariel junction we saw a military vehicle and soldiers checking cars.
12:30 – From Rosh Ha'Ayin we drove back home to Tel Aviv.