Today myself and three of my colleagues accompanied two members of the Jenin Committee "Against the Wall" on a visit to the village of Nazlet Zaid in western part of Jenin region. The village is situated beside the Wall, whose path in this area runs deep into the West Bank in order to take in the Israeli colonial settlements of Hinnanit and Shaqed. Talking to the village Mayor a we hear a depressingly familiar story. This village of 750 people has lost 1500 dunam's (¼ acre) of land, some to the actual construction of the Wall but the majority unofficially annexed on the far side of the Wall. The Israeli authorities claim that local farmers have access to all their lands on the land beyond the Wall but of the 35 requests that local people have made for access to their own land only 17 have been granted.
The Mayor tells us that his family is amongst those unable to farm their land because they have been denied the necessary permission to pass through the Wall. Even those with permission find it difficult. Permissions are granted for only short specified time periods, a week here, a week there. If the weather during a specific week is not suitable for agricultural work then the opportunity is lost - access is strictly controlled by the dictates of the permit system. Permission is granted to individuals not families so the agricultural work normally shared amongst many is now conducted by the few.
Throughout the history of Israeli annexation and colonization of Palestine land has been seized on the pretext that it is unused or has been abandoned by local people. The perception of many in Jenin is that by making the land on the far side of the Wall inaccessible, the Israelis will claim that the land has been abandoned and that it will then be absorbed by the nearby settlements.
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On our way to this village we had pass though a mobile checkpoint. Whilst we were there the occupants of at least 30 cars and other vehicles were forced to wait in line by soldiers from an armoured personal carrier (APC) parked at the side of the road. Whilst we were present we saw no one being denied through-passage but I saw cars and vans turning back as they approached the stationary line of vehicles. Everyone was forced to wait at least 40 minutes as soldiers slowly inspected the documents of each passing traveler. Like the vast majority of checkpoints this process appeared to have nothing to do with Israelis much self-emphasized security needs. The blocked road did not lead to Israel but between Palestinian towns and villages. This checkpoint just appeared to be another aspect of the routine system of movement restrictions, harassment and humiliation that typifies the Occupation.
Closer to Nazlet Zaid we passed along a road that also doubles as an access road to the Israeli colonial settlement of Mevo Dotan. Our companion told us that thousands of olive trees have been cleared from the areas adjacent to the road to remove cover for anyone shooting at people traveling to the nearby settlement. We stop further down the road where the olive groves come close to the road. Pinned on a tree is a notice in Arabic informing the landowner that the trees in this area will also be removed by the army. There will be no compensation. Once again the "security" needs of those Israelis that live in settlements that are recognized as illegal by international law and international opinion ride roughshod over the rights of the local population.
Everyday in Palestine livelihoods are destroyed to maintain the defence of the indefensible and freedom of movement constrained to police an illegal occupation.
