Welcome to Kalandya Checkpoint - Friday, 26 August 2011

Kalandya Checkpoint which determines which Palestinians from the West Bank north of Jerusalem can actually enter East Jerusalem...which is a 'special part' of Palestine requiring permits to enter...has been notorious for all sorts of restrictions, permit denials, abusive behaviors from the soldiers and military police, and general malaise. Last Friday was an important day on the Ramadan fasting calendar:  it was the last Friday of the fast for Muslims to visit the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, as well as being the Muslim feast of Laylat al Qadr when the prophet Mohammed received angel Gabriel and the first words for the Koran directly from God. The military police and Israeli Defense Force came out full-force, expecting protest demonstrations, possible riots, and general civil disturbances....that never happened. As men over 50 years, and women over 45 years, and children under 12 years, requiring only their ID and not permits, quietly passed through the entrance of the checkpoint, a military police platoon of 25 highly armed souls stood ground, trying to look important. They buzzed messages and strategized, pulled all sorts of crowd control equipment, and showed discomforts with their guns slung and swaying over shoulders and chests. Some 23,000 people passed successfully and during the early hours of 6 - 10:30am.  Here's what I witnessed:

Who was watching whom here? Police making their plans.

Tear gas man ready...as older men file by....

Guns pointing...as older men hobble in....

A water steam blower to 'cool' the crowds?

During the fast, people are not suppose to wet their lips, drink, or eat. This steam blower (is it really necessary?) accomplished little other than to irritate those committed to their fast by enticing a desire to lick the moisture on their mouths.

House Demolitions in West Bank - by the Occupier greedy for land

Thanks to the 1990's Oslo Accords, Palestine became a series of Bantustans or zoned areas, cutting many off from their lands.  So-called "Area C" lands were designated "Israeli-controlled" areas in 1995...which means simply anyone living in those areas up to today had to think of moving out of the area.  The Israeli government, rather, preferred that land for its own plans of expanding Jewish settlements, WITHOUT compensation to those Palestinian landowners/dwellers whose several generations of residence proved them as original owner/residents.  Up to now, the Israeli occupying government has issued more demolition orders than it can execute, thanks to lack of funds. It's now a game, a toss-up, of uncertainty about WHEN and WHOse structures (houses, animal stables, schools, clinics, water reservoirs, etc. etc.) will get the bulldozer treatment.....

Moussa on incomplete 4th floor of his house in Isbet Tabib/West Bank

 The semi-completed house of Moussa Tabib and family in Izbat Tabib, a village in the Area C zone of Qalqiliya District, has had a demolition order for the past 7 years.   But Moussa has other problems: “I don’t work now since my daughter has been traveling to hospitals to seek treatment.” Her problems started at age 8 months (she is now 5 years old)  with a neural ear defect that needs cochlear implants. One operation was not successful and has left her partially deaf with speech defects. According to one report from a hospital in Jordan, “she needs two more surgeries,” Moussa said.  “This costs me a lot of money, so I’m looking for assistance.”  In the meantime, Moussa awaits the olive harvest in October when he can salvage some of the fruits from his trees which are still accessible.

But all this doesn’t deter Moussa from his other activity - of adding a story to his house little by little, while risking complete demolition at any time. “I don’t fear,” he says. On the 4^th floor which does not yet have walls, he proudly boasts, “This is my room.”  One ground floor room is finished and tiled.  “My house is one of 32 houses (out of 40 houses) in Izbat Tabib having demolition orders. “There is our municipality office which also has demolition orders,” he said, pointing to the next building. When asked, what if the bulldozer arrives at his house:  “I will not move! I will stay in the house!” he repeated, defiantly. He lives with his 4 children, mother, and wife who is ready to deliver their 5^th child anytime.  They wait.  “I don’t care if the bulldozer comes. Let it come.” Moussa seems unconcerned that the demolition will happen. “Maybe the government has run out of money to do these demolitions,” I half joked. 

One daughter is in the 3^rd grade at the primary school next door which has 7 grades and 50 students. “Even the school has a demolition order – all these buildings,” he said as he swung his strong arm around, pointing to the areas from his 4^th floor rooftop. A beautiful panoramic view of the land, viewing Jayyus in the distance sitting majestically on its hilltop, seemed to belie reality. Just below was a main road to large settlements, and the fenced-in area demarcating Area C land – which is under Israeli control. Most of his lands were already cut off from access as they were zoned in Area C with no gate access. Those lands will probably go fallow and become expropriated to the Israeli government, under the infamous and archaic laws of the Ottoman period.  Moussa’s mother showed us how she makes juice from the fruits of the aged tree in front of the house. Her wrinkled smile shown through sun-worn eyes, and told its own story….of possible hope.  Perhaps a worn-out hope. She looks forward to her next grandchild very soon.

Israeli Settlers as harrassing immigrants among Palestinians

 My fellow EA Eva nearby produced this hauntingly real story about settler incursions in her village of Yanoun.  Read about it on:  http://evaulland.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/leave-us-alone-with-the-arabs-we-know-the-job-english-version/

 

Skrevet 9. august 2011 av Eva Ulland

Sunday morning. The rooster’s been up for a while, still it’s only 5:55 am when my telephone rings. It’s Rashed, the mayor here in Yanoun. “Settlers!”, is all he says, and that means: get dressed, bring your cameras – in a hurry!

One of the soldiers looking after the settlers private car.. EAPPI-colleague, Chris is observing

Outside, we meet two settlers and four soldiers. I ask one of the soldiers what’s going on, and he answeres: “No problem, they’re with us”. The two settlers are actually accompanied by four soldiers carrying army rifles.....   [READ ON!]

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During my visits to one settler-surrounded valley of Wadi Qana, I benefited from the Mayor's recent video.... about Settlers (oh....and Army)  removing somebody else's olive trees....!  The lush valley of Wadi Qana seems to be their playground......

YouTube entry re Soldiers and Bulldozers in Wadi Qana:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WknkVE9KWrA

Carol with uprooted olive tree earlier protected by tyres

In the lush olive groves of relatively well-watered Wadi Qana in Qalqiliya District of the Palestinian West Bank, soldiers and immigrants work together to dislodge, thieve, and harrass the long-resident farmers. The 'village' is surrounded by hill-top settlements of new Israelis "who want us just to go away and live somewhere else", says the Mayor Nazim Salman. "I have watched these settlements grow; I have watched those Settlers come down with their bulldozers and 4-wheel drive trucks to uproot young olive and fruit trees."  But why? I ask. Silly question.  "Because they think this is their land!" he retorts.  "Even the Israeli army protects them, not us Palestinians!"  So, will you just leave this encroached area, I ask.  "Never. Never. This is my father's land, and my grandfather's land.  Noone could even buy my land to get me out!!"

Would a "one-state solution" to the 'Palestinian/Israeli question' enable immigrant Settlers from Russian and former East European states to live together 'harmoniously'??

What Laws??

An Azzun family of seven male children suffered soldier incursions at 1:30am one night, two months ago. “We lost their father in a building accident two years ago,” sniffled the mother, “and now, my two older sons can’t continue their work in Israel for our family income!” 

Azzun family with two older brothers incarcerated

 Soldiers had busted into their two story house, upturned and broke furniture, and tore up cupboards. Their purpose was to arrest a 17 year old son for throwing stones one night during a protest. “Our boy has been in an Israeli jail since mid-May 2011, and our family can’t get permits to visit him.” Oh, but children 16 years and younger can travel into Israel from their Palestinian home and visit their relatives in jail without a permit! “After Mahmoud was arrested, Israel cancelled my other two sons’ work permits!  They had decent jobs in Israel,” the mother pined. 

Judgment on the boy’s fate was suppose to be made by the Court in mid-July but this was postponed, as happens frequently with [military] court cases. Being a juvenile, he is tried in a military court, like adults are; there are no ‘civil’ courts for Palestinians!  “My brother helps me,” the mother continued, “but he also has a family. We have no further income to the household, except a very small stipend from the Palestinian authorities for food maintenance!  And there aren’t any ‘good’ jobs for young male Palestinians in Azzun town of 12,000 people.” I did not have to embellish the translation of this hideous situation.

This is thanks to that law of 'the right of return' for anybody with Jewish heritage to settle in Israel with instant citizenship and probably with instant jobs.

“Boys easily get into trouble in Palestine villages”, said one old man during his sheesha smoking session. The rough and confined parameters for movement upset old and young; they view barbed wire fences constantly which keep them, their work animals, and tractors away from their fields. “Boys see their fathers’ lands disappear” because of the encroaching illegal settlements of Israelis and their colonizing immigrants.  “Then when the soldiers come in their vehicles to harass us, the boys throw stones!  Wouldn’t you?” he suggested.

 

Jayyus North Gate wire art

 And what about the farmer who has a permit to enter one agriculture gate, but one of his lands is near a second gate 5 kilometres away for which he cannot get a permit to enter. Which means he walks some 15-20 kilometres to visit both lands and exit through only one gate in the evening. What redress does he have to obtain this second permit? Little.  He was lucky to obtain the one permit he has, even though it’s due to expire soon….which means he may have to wait for renewal…during the important upcoming harvest season in October…..which means his trees won’t have the proper maintenance they need…..

What laws? The old archaic Ottoman Empire law of the mid-1800s is still on the Israeli books:  if a land has not been worked and has deteriorated over a 3 year period (who deems this situation? Who dates this period?), then that land reverts back to the State (i.e  of Israel).  No compensation to the farmer who has entitlements to that land! There’s also the French, Islamic Sharia, and tribal laws still operating, which need consolidating if any ‘justice’ system is going to work fairly in Israel.

Whose laws??  Palestinians in the West Bank are not ‘citizens’ of Israel, but rather are governed by the State of Israel through the Palestinian National Authority.  Yet Palestinians pay taxes (albeit, smaller than Israelis) which are collected by the Israeli finance ministry, and then distributed to the PNA coffers….  To build roads, finance electricity and water (which is rationed four times more to Israeli settlements than to Palestinian villages), clinics, etc.  

Ramalla advert

 But even USAID-financed infrastructural developments, like roads and wells, are considered a sham aid, when viewed next to the massive millions received by the State of Israel to bolster their pervasive and invasive occupation industry all through post 1948 Palestinian territory.

And who writes which laws?  Has the Knesset ever thought of just stopping to think out carefully what on earth it’s been doing for the past 60 years?