Burin - Maqams under occupation

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Place:

Burin (Yitzhar)

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Confiscation of sites of religious significance for Palestinian tradition (maqams)

Observers:

Nurit and Irit (report), Mustafa (driving), Tal Haran (translating)

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Mar-9-2022

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Morning

We arrived at Burin, to Doha and Samir Asus’s family home that is being renovated, to bring them some booklets, translated into Arabic, about the Palestinian caged-in holy sites, maqams. A review of these sites around Burin relies on the couple’s testimonies as well. From the joyous reception of the printed material, we proceeded to the problem of the springs stolen by Yitzhar colony and the spring Ein Mahna that has been stolen by three colonies together: Itamar, Beracha, and the colonist outpost Sneh Yaacov.

Doha, who in the past dared to come with us to Maqam Abu Ismail and to the spring Ein Mahna below, backed off this time for fear of the colonists from the outpost Sneh Yaacov. That is why the alternative route we chose together was to view at least from afar the springs of Bourin and Madama that have been taken over by Yitzhar.

We came as close as our safety required, and the distance, as you see in the photos – was great. Because of the distance, what the photos show is basically beautiful lush landscape, and invisible springs that are now out of bounds for Palestinians.

A villager of Madama who saw us joined and said that his 15-year-old daughter who went out to pick herbs not far from home was shot in her arm and arrested for 2 months.

Ein Al Sara on the horizon

Photo:

Irit Segoli

Controlled by Yitzhar settlement

Bir Hamama (Dove Well) – on the horizon

Photo:

Irit Segoli

A huge cistern that used to be the main water source for Madama village. (Qamin Hasif, p. 268 in the Israel Nature Reserves Guide), controlled by Yitzhar. Prior to the takeover busloads of travelers would arrive to see this natural wonder – to which enormous groups of birds and doves would dive, and where doves would roost.

Samir, Nurit, Doha and Mustafa

Photo:

Irit Segoli

Between Bourin and Madama

Maqams under occupation

This very short report, coming out rather late, gives us a chance to ask more poignantly: how can we present the subject of the Maqams to the public on tour, on the basis of our study, which we named ‘Israel’s Takeover of Palestinian Sacred and Heritage Sites

in the West Bank’. It is a survey that is also a map for whoever wishes to study the subject throughout the West Bank and comprehend the present situation of Maqams distanced from their owners.

A reminder about tradition: the Palestinians used to come on pilgrimages to these hilltop sites in various contexts – from celebrations of spring, through family events, prayers, requests for rain or for offspring, for health, meeting inhabitants of other villages, spending time alone in nature, through plain family recreation on the hilltops in view of the marvelous landscape.

This tradition was erased as the colonies were established on the hilltops, in the following order: 1. Takeover of the hilltop with its Maqam in order to erect an army base and declare it a ‘closed military zone’. 2. Transferring it to be controlled and resided by citizens of Israel. 3. Takeover of the springs at the foothills. 4. Erecting colonist outposts and taking over additional lands. 5. Damaging Palestinians in their homes and fields.

Burin as a test case:

The two Maqam sites on Burin land are Maqam Salman Al Farsi inside Yitzhar colony (as well as on the lands of 5 other villages around the mountain), and Maqam Abu Isma’il outside of but controlled by Beracha colony and the colonist outpost Sneh Yaacov.

Yitzhar took over three of Burin’s and Madama’s springs, while Beracha, Sneh Yaacov, and Itamar took over the largest of the area’s springs – Ein Mahna. The takeover of the springs includes changing the name to commemorate a Jew and designing and publicizing the site (in colonist taste…) in the booklet Maayanush, inviting all of Israel to come and enjoy the stolen spring water.

Colonists have begun to plant their trees in lands belonging to Burin, between the Maqam and Ein Mahna spring, to which Palestinians no longer dare to come (according to Dror Etkes).

Colonists of the outpost Sneh Ya’acov, damaging Burin villagers in their homes and groves, have joined the veteran vandals of Yitzhar and its outposts.

Location Description

Burin (Yitzhar)

See all reports for this place

Burin

This is a Palestinian village in the Nablus governorate, a little south of Nablus, on the main road passing through the West Bank. The settlements: Yitzhar and Har Bracha, settled in locations that surrounded the village, placed fences so it is cut off the main road.

There are around 4000 inhabitants. Most of them are engaged in agriculture and pasture, although many graduates of the two secondary schools continue to study at the university. Academic positions are hardly available, they find work as builderd, or leave for the Gulf countries.

The village lands were appropriated several times for the establishment of Israeli settlements and military bases, and as a result, Burin's land and water resources dwindled. lSince 1982, more than 2,000 dunams of village land have been declared "state land" and then transferred to Har Bracha settlement.

Over the past few years and more so since 2017, the villagers have been terrorized by the residents of Yitzhar and Har Bracha, the Givat Ronen outpost and others.
Despite the close proximity of soldiers to an IDF base close to one of the village's schools, residents are suffering from numerous stone-throwing events, vehicle and fire arson, also reported in the press.

In 2023, the prevention of the olive harvest in the village plot was more violent than ever. Soldiers and settlers walked with drawn weapons between the houses of the village and demanded that people stop harvesting in the village itself and in the private plots outside the village. The settlers from Yitzhar and Giv'at Roned raided the olive groves and stole crops. 300 olive trees belonging to the residents of Burin, near Yitzhar, were uprooted. The loss of livelihood from the olives causes long-term economic damage to the farmers' families, bringing them to the point of starvation.

(updated for November 2023)