Haris, Huwwara
11:00 We meet A., from Hars.
Irit: A. is opposed both to the occupation and to violence by Palestinians. For years he’s been a social activist involved with problems related to the occupation. He’s also an expert on Moslem historical and holy sites on the West Bank in general and in Kifl Harth in particular. I asked him for names of people to contact near the Alon Moreh settlement whose territory includes the Sheikh Bilal maqam, access where is denied to Palestinians. We also discussed possible ways to make the Nabi Isma’il site, which isn’t included in the settlement’s territory, accessible to villagers in the area.
He told us about the summer camp for young Palestinian women released from Israeli prisons that he was involved in organizing and running. It was held a few days before the beginning of the school year. It helped them overcome the stress caused by their imprisonment.
Chana Zohar learned from her conversation with A. that in the past, there was closer cooperation between Kav LaOved and activities in support of rights of Palestinian workers in large firms on the West Bank. They agreed to strengthen their cooperation. A. will be updated regarding developments and new regulations that Kav LaOved manages to implement on behalf of the workers. A more direct connection has now been established between Kav LaOved and A., who is committed to assisting the Palestinian workers.
A. updated us regarding new roadblocks at Huwwara.
Nurit:
12:30 We drove to Huwwara because of what A. told us. Soldiers were stationed at all the hitchhiking locations at Za’tara junction. A group of 8-10 soldiers got out of a vehicle and entered the compound at the junction.
13:00 The entrance to Huwwara.
Residents said access roads from the main highway to villages in the area have been blocked for about five days.
The junction to Beita is blocked by a mound of boulders, construction rubble and concrete blocks. The army left a narrow footpath. Cars park on both sides of the barrier – stuck, unable to continue. Goods being transported remain in the cars. The barrier imposes hardships on many aspects of daily life. People are frustrated and angry. They don’t understand the reason for the barrier. They must go to work and errands on foot. A teacher told us she must now walk a long way to the school where she teaches. Her daughters, pupils in that school, walk with her.
The junction to Einabus is also blocked. Huge concrete cubes sit in an orderly row across the width of the road. But the army is considerate: while cars can’t go through, there’s room between the cubes for people on foot.
Rumor has it that the Burin junction is also blocked.
As we passed Za’tara junction on our way back a truck before us was loaded with large, black plastic water tanks, the kind installed on rooftops. I photographed the truck. A soldier in the booth at the junction saw me with the camera
, stopped us and wanted to know what we were doing. He warned us that it’s a military junction and photography is forbidden. I was afraid he’d confiscate the camera.
Yesterday we were informed by a friend from Burin that the roadblocks had been removed two days earlier, because of the holiday.