Burin (Yitzhar), Madama

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Observers: 
Nurit Popper, Irit Segoli, Chana Zemer (reporting).  Translator:  Charles K.
Apr-5-2017
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Morning
Seriously? Does this make us safer?

Settlers Harass Residents of Burin Village with the Army’s Backing

Burin’s location below the surrounding settlements makes it a target of frequent harassment by settlers on the Sabbath and during the week.  The photos taken by the residents provide vivid evidence of the evil actions and of the arbitrary nature of the army’s response.

11:00  We left from Rosh Ha’ayin.

We came to Burin because of Fathiya’s report about the settlers’ attack on farmers from Madama and about Saturday’s attack in Burin.  Burin is located between two settlements, Yizhar and Berakha, and their outposts.

We arranged to meet our acquaintance, D.  She greeted us warmly but her expression was more somber than usual.  She was busy responding to frequent phone calls from people who were to go on a trip to Israel the following day.  It was hard for her to explain to them all that the trip had been cancelled due to the pre-holiday closureinfo-icon.  We couldn’t understand it because the holiday was four days away and there had been no official notice of a closure.  Chana Barg told us over the phone that it wasn’t a closure, but rather “travel restrictions.”  Why hadn’t they been announced earlier?  Why hadn’t an alternate date been set?  Who will compensate people for lost work days, expenses and aggravation?  Questions that no one asks under occupation.

They told us about the attack, on late Saturday afternoon, from the Giv’at Sneh Ya’akov outpost that established itself on the ridge of Burin’s lands between Jebel Abu Isma’il and the village.  Settlers threw rocks at homes at the outskirts of the village.  The residents were rallied by calls from the mosque, and came out.  We were told some residents photographed the incident. The photos clearly showed the settlers, dressed in their Sabbath finery, picking up rocks and using slings to throw them; some children were beside them as well as clearly visible soldiers.  As the disorder increased and more villagers arrived, additional soldiers came with a vehicle and fired gas and shock grenades.  Later, when dusk began to fall, close-ups of soldiers could be seen beside one of the buildings at the edge of the village, standing with weapons pointed at the road.  A soldier was seen bursting from a courtyard, accompanied by a settler.

Later we drove to the homes at which the rocks had been thrown.  We met a woman and her daughter who told us their home has become a regular target of the settlers.  They made a number of attempts to set it afire.  The son and his family lived in the house and they were forced to move to the mother’s home in a different village because of what the children had experienced.  The mother and daughter moved into the targeted house in Burin. 

We left, having decided we must come here more often.