Aim: Assistance in the submission of a petition against the blocking of road no. 450 for Palestinian traffic

Reminder: the last section of road no. 450 between Beytilalo and Halamish has been blocked for Palestinian traffic on July 23th 2017, two days after the terrorist attack at Halamish. This closure is an extremely painful blow, especially for the 18.000 Palestinians who live at united Beitillu (which includes the refugee camp Deir Amar and the village of Jamla). With the closure of the road, the approach to the North of the West Bank, including Rawabi and Bir Zeit, and most of their agricultural lands and even some of the village houses are blocked for them.

From the day on which Naji Tamimi, the head of Nebi Salah, approached us on the 3.8.17 and told us about the closure of the road – we studied the subject and examined together how we could fight this bad decree. This report is a continuation of the last report by Nurit of 15.8.17 and the articles by Amira Hass of 18.8.17 and 20.8.17 in the Ha’aretz newspaper, including the coming stage:

On the 28.8.17 a meeting was held in Beitillu between the heads of the villages Nebi Salah, Deir Nizam and united Beitillu, together with advocate Neta Amar, Dror Atkes from “Kerem Navot” (who arrived with detailed maps) Nurit and myself. The purpose of the meeting was an agreement and giving Neta Amar a power of attorney to act legally on behalf of the heads of the villages, to open the road. The financing body will be the Norwegian Refugee Council, and this is an enormous relief.

We gave advocate Neta Amar a disc on key which included 4 interviews and photographed testimonies which, so we hope, could assist the legal procedure. These are:

1. An interview with the spokeswomen of Halamish from which it transpires clearly that the plan to close the road and to change it into and interior road in the Settlement preceded the murder by many years and is the fruit of the Settlement’s aspiration to expand. And a also a fraudulent argument that a Palestinian who wants to drive from Nebi Salah to Beitillu has the choice of another road which passes by Deir Nizam.

2. An interview with the head of Beitillu Farid Hareb on the severe consequences of the closure of the road on the lives of the inhabitants of Beitillu.

3. An interview which we photographed on the 27.8.17 on the spot – with an investigative reporter of Betzelem, Ayad Hadad, on the attacks of the settlers of Nahliel on the olive groves and the farmers of Beitillu and their vehicles – since 2010 – concerning the closed part of road 450 between Beitillu and Nahliel and the whole of the Talmonim block.

4. An interview with Nasser Abu Ayan at the A-Zarka Wadi which is the residence and recreation basin of Beitillu and other villages which can be reached only by way of the blocked road no. 450.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeTuNGfCg3U&feature=youtu.be

Details about the A-Zarka Wadi

With Road 450 blocked – Israel will be able to realize the dream of turning the place into the “Zarka Springs Reserve” according to the 1994 authorisation – although the side is owned by Palestinians who live there and process the land and despite the fact that the area is the B territory.

“According to which law does this go?” the head of Beytilalo Farid Hareb asks.

At the A Zarka velley (the blue valley) the Beit Nabala refugees who were expelled in ’48 and moved in a straight line eastwards, built their homes (their plots were divided between Beit Nahemia and Kfar Truman, according to the “Zochrot” site).

A nearly straight line connects Beit NehemiaKfar Truman – where the village of Beit Nabala used to be situated – with the site where its descendants live today in Wadi A Zarka.

If the blocking of road 450 will turn from temporary to permanent this is a second Nakba as far as they are concerned. Contrary to the first Nakba this one is conducted in stages since 1976.

The three empty swimming pools at the A Zarka Wadi are a sad sight. How much effort, planning and money the owner of the pools invested in this ambitious project – for the welfare of the Palestinian villagers. A project which began with the grandfather who was exiled here in 1948. The pools teemed till now with life and family picnics of the villagers of Beitillu, Deir Nizam and Nebi Salah. Now they are empty, since the moment the road of the Palestinians to the pools was blocked when Road 450 was closed for them.

Nasser’s grandfather built in 1948 a preliminary dwelling place for the family by closing the opening of the cave. The air and light apertures form a perfect living area for winter and summer. His father built a frame for a door, when the place already served as an animal pen. At the left there is an opening to a much smaller cave which served as a taboon.