Northern checkpoints: Agricultural checkpoints are being deliberately shut down
Barta’a checkpoint
Life is so difficult under Occupation! If that’s not enough, a horrible, terrible disaster strikes and you’re only 35 years old
05:50 Entry to the terminal from the Palestinian side goes quickly – through the new shed with two lanes leading to two revolving gates
(one for people entering the West Bank, the other for those leaving). At this hour of the morning, at least, everything flows.
We heard a heartbreaking story from a polite 35 year old man who speaks fluent Hebrew. He lives in the Palestinian village of Beit Lid near Tulkarm. His son, two and half years old, suffered a cardiac or cranial event eight months ago. He was unable to reach the hospital immediately and since then he’s been in a vegetative state. He begs us to help him cancel his blacklisting that prevents him from entering Israel (ordered by the Shabak and the police); it was imposed after he had been caught four times for being in Israel illegally and had served a prison term. He wants to support his small family (his wife, sick son and two small daughters) and not pay NIS 60 every day for transportation from his village to the Barta’a checkpoint (where he works, earning NIS 100/day). He wants to enter Israel via Tulkarm and seek aid for his ill son…the difficulties and troubles increase from one day to the next.
We can’t take it any longer.
A’anin agricultural checkpoint
The Occupation sucks the Palestinians’ blood, thoroughly and continually
06:20 Approximately 15-20 people went through; the checkpoint was open for 15 minutes. In August, 2016, an average of 60-70 people went through here and the checkpoint was open for half an hour. The current reduction in the hours it’s open is accompanied by a reduction in the number of permit renewals, which reduces the number of people crossing. It’s all aimed at a single goal: to make it difficult for the farmers to reach their lands trapped in the seam zone – in other words, to make them disappear.
The DCL issued a new demand to the farmers: whoever claims they own olive trees beyond the separation fence must obtain a new tabu – land registry – document for the land this year; the one currently in their possession is no longer valid. How much does a new tabu document cost? NIS 30 per dunum… Some farmers own dozens of dunums; for them, it’s very expensive. For this and other reasons, they and other farmers are having difficulty obtaining the documents, and for now are unable to cultivate their land.
From the Civil Administration’s perspective, it’s another attempt to systematize the documentation of Palestinian land trapped in the seam zone beyond the separation fence. The Civil Administration has difficulty approving some of the tabu documents accompanying applications for crossing permits, such as validated wills, legacies and death certificates of the landowners.
Taybe/Rummaneh agricultural checkpoint
07:00 A sad mood prevails among the Palestinians at the checkpoint. On some days smiles outnumber bleak stares. Not today. Not so long ago about 30 people had crossed here (not during the olive harvest) and the checkpoint was open for half an hour. Recently, and also today, ten people crossed and the checkpoint was open 15 minutes. Soon only five will cross and the checkpoint will open for five minutes. And then the DCL will tell us that Palestinians aren’t using the checkpoint so why even open it?