Izbat Abu Salman, Izbat el Jaloud.

We visited the fence CPs between Abu Salman and Izbat el Jaloud. We learned that at this part of the fence there are 4 checkpoints: two agricultural checkpoints, one checkpoint for Bedouins with their cattle, and one gate for military use only.

09:00 – We leave Rosh Ha'Ayin.

First stop at ‘Azzun, to unload equipment (household utensils, games and clothes) at A.'s shop. From there – to a meeting with our acquaintance M. at the Majelas of Beit Amin. M., who speaks fluent Hebrew, patiently explained the opening and passage arrangements at the agricultural CPs, south of Beit Amin.

The lands belonging to the inhabitants of Abu Salman and El Jaloud lie between the separation fence and the fence of the settlements Nirit and Oranit. The separation gate was built on the citrus plantations of the Palestinians and the approach to their plots and the return to their homes is limited to the hours fixed by the army, as is the custom in other agricultural checkpoints.

The eastern checkpoint, The Abu Salman Gate, no. 1419, can enable passage for pedestrians only.  The road leading up is an impassable dirt road not intended for private vehicles. This gate is opened at 08:00.

At some point along the fence, up the Patrollers Road, in the direction of the Oranit gate, we notice a vehicle which was parked near the fence. We were told that they had arrived there in order to repair the fence. It seems that the gaps made in the fence are a matter of routine, in order to avoid the exhausting walk to the gate and the wait for the opening hours.

The western CP, the Jaloud Gate is situated near the road and it is possible to reach it with a vehicle. It is opened for passage at 06:30. Near this CP, in the direction of Nirit, is another CP intended for the passage of Bedouins, from the Hebron area,  with their cattle. These Bedouins have an authorization for 24 hours. The cattle is brought there for the trimming of the weeds in the fields (a usual custom in many countries).

Between Jaloud and Ras Atiya there is a military CP. It is intended for military vehicles only.

Passage Authorisations:

M. told us that the landowners who are allowed to cultivate their lands, get passage permits by two checkpoints: Abu Salaman and Jaloud, and they are given the choice by which CP they wish to pass. They are allowed to work only in the area of the lands situated between the fences of the settlements Nirit and Oranit and the military fence. If they pass east of this area their passage permit may be rescinded (a soldier who will identify a person outside the defined area, will classify him as an illegal immigrant and tear up his permit).

Sometimes a Palestinian car will be permitted to pass to the area of the lands and to drive on the security road along the fence. In such cases one can sometimes perceive a car which drives back and forth and transports people to their fields, otherwise the people are obliged to march a few kilometers until their reach the plot left to them.

The checkpoint opposite the Oranit square, on which the numbers 1473, 1474, and 1475 are written and which served until two months ago as an agricultural CP, was closed to Palestinians. The reason given to us is that there are numerous complaints by the Oranit people that the Palestinians will be able to enter their settlement. Now this big and "splendid"  gate serves for the passage of military vehicles only.

After the visit at the military gate we returned by way of Izbat Salman, Beit Amin, Sinirya, Bidiya, the Barkan and Netafim settlements to road no. 5. At Izbat Salman we stopped at A.'s house. We wished to find out whether there was any progress regarding his old father's application to Sylvia. We got no replies. We will have to find out from our contact N. who helped us write the application. Perhaps the problem was solved. Here is a link to the account of a visit on April 27^th 2015

 http://www.machsomwatch.org/en/daily-reports/checkpoints?page=10

At 12:50 we passed near the stinking sewage cascade which descends from the direction of Barkan. There was a heavy flow.

Attached are photographs:

1.     A map with the marking of the gates. The purples line marks the "security road" of the army, on which the land owners are allowed to march to their plots, or to drive if they have a permit.

2.     The Abu Salman CP, no. 1419 .

3.     The Jaloud CP. We still haven't got the number. There is signposting on the other side of the fence, and perhaps the number is marked there.