Escalation of harassment in Al Hame and Halt Makhul

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Observers: 
Naomi L., Rina Tz. (reporting)
Oct-5-2016
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Afternoon

We drove to the Palestinian Jordan Valley to visit Al Hama, where the army demolished an encampment of an extended family a week ago (September 27) and forces them to live exposed to the elements. During this day we encountered two more problems: Burhan of Halat Makhoul was left with no water for his sheep (as are various shepherds in the area), and a clash between the Palestinian landowners in En Sakut and the army over the right to cultivate lands belonging to the Palestinians.

Al Heme

The site is right opposite the settlement of Mekhola, near the illegal outpost of Giv’at Sal’it. The S. family has been living there for over 30 years. The land is Palestinian privately-owned. A week ago the Civil Administrationinfo-icon demolished all the dwelling tents and sheep pens of this family. The grounds for demolition: no construction permits. This is within Area C, under full Israeli domination, and since 1967 Palestinians are simply not issued any construction permits. Anything built in the past 50 years is considered illegal construction.

Escalation of harassment. After the recent demolitions the army keeps arriving at the site several times a day (and night) and prevents the inhabitants from putting up even an awning for shade in the seething sun. What will happen when the rains come?
In the destruction sprees so far, that take place in the Palestinian Jordan Valley regularly once every month or two, immediately following a demolition various organizations arrive and donate tents and shades, and the site is gradually rebuilt. These people have nowhere else to go and they insist on continuing to live; they must feed their children and livestock, their only source of livelihood. Apparently the army has escalated its pressure in order to break them completely and force them to leave the place, which is theirs. So far they have received a small, symbolic tent from the Red Cross, which has also been demolished and re-erected several times. The main aid, both physical and moral, comes from Ta’ayush members who accompany ever since demolition day (including overnight) and try to rebuild. However, the army has been preventing them from doing so. In the meantime they have sorted out and fixed the construction materials that were left, in order to prepare them for re-construction.

We met only an elderly woman, mother of the family. Her husband went to Toubas to get medical attention. They have 11 children, 6 of them married, and living there with their families. Two are shepherds and the rest work in settlements. One is a school teacher. At the moment the entire extended family (about 15 persons) crowd in a single tent that was not taken down. With them lives her disabled son, 30-years old, who has no control over his needs and they must restrain him when he throws tantrums. She asked us to bring her clothing for him, since he has to be changed very often. She spoke a lot, and bitterly. She is tired of thisall. She would leave, no matter what. The soldiers come day and night, and frighten the children. The family is afraid to even move a single post from its spot, for fear of the army’s harassment (only the Ta’ayush volunteers dare move and sort things out).

 

Burhan of Halat Makhoul in the northern Palestinian Jordan Valley has no one from whom to purchase water: so far he has bought water at 23 shekel a cubic meter from a truck owner who gets it at Bardala or at En Al Beda – two villages in the northern Jordan Valley who receive water from Mekorot, the Israel water company (a story in itself, which we shall skip this time). Today the truck arrived, sold water to A. and B. and there was none left for Burhan. The truck owner said that these villages are not willing to sell more than this quantity, and that their own water rations are not sufficient. Burhan will have enough water until this evening. Tomorrow there will be none to water the sheep. I spoke to Yaacov Manor of the Water Coalition, asked him to speak to someone at Mekorot. And what happens until then? At Atouf village there is enough water and they are willing to sell, but that water cannot be transported because of Gokhia Gate which blocks the way. It’s an agricultural barrier closed by the army over two years ago.

A clash at Al Sakut on October 4th between the land owners who came to plow their land, and the army who prevented them from doing so.

A Google search yielded 10 mentions of “En Sukkot”, and everyone admires the beauty of the place, how it turned into a resort, worth a visit, how to get there, photos etc. In the English search we learn that Al Sakut used to be a Palestinian village until 1967, situated very close to the River Jordan, and its inhabitants along with those of another 31 villages were forced to move away and their lands confiscated – totaling 10,000 dunams of privately owned land. The strip of land along the Jordanian border was fenced, parts of it mined. After peace was achieved with Jordan the mines were removed and the lands were quietly given over to the Jewish settlements for cultivation. En Sakut, the site (according to pictures) of a beautiful spring water pool, was given to the settlement of Shadmot Mekhola. The settlers put up shade and picnic tables there.

The Palestinian owners have petitioned the Israeli court which ruled that they are entitled to cultivate their land. Yesterday they came with their tractors. Opposite them were settlers of the region, Israeli as well as Palestinian and international media, B’Tselem (Israeli human rights organization) and the army of course. This was all told to me by Palestinians living nearby. They also said that all the Israeli activists were forced to move away and their cameras were taken, as were Palestinian media people. Arguments persisted for 5 hours, at which time they army representatives ordered the tractors to leave the spot. In other words – the court ruling will not be implemented.

Other things we saw on the way

At Zaatara Junction Checkpoint, on our way back, we saw two army vehicles standing in the roundabout in the middle of the junction. Their drivers were talking to each other, for some reason.

At Hamra Checkpoint which is usually open, yesterday at 3 p.m. soldiers prevented passage and Palestinians had to wait for two hours.

At the junction of Allon Road and the road leading to Hamam Al Maleh, at 12 noon, an army pickup truck with two male and two female soldiers were stopping Palestinian vehicles and inspecting IDs, ordering passengers out and inspecting the vehicles themselves. We did not stay there, and inquired later on. We were informed that this surprise checkpoint was folded up after about an hour and the soldiers continued to Hamam Al Maleh where they conducted searches in the tents.

The road to Jawarish is still blocked with stones.

One of the entrances to Akraba village is also blocked.

T.H