10th of March-West Bank rural area
Israel has closed its borders to incoming flights because of the Virus. I leave to go home tomorrow, 6 days early.
Today my notes will come from my tour guide, who is a Palestinian living in Israel, he has residency, but not citizenship. There were four of us who were touring with Mohammad, who drove and provided us information.
Those Palestinians who lived in Israeli territory before 1948 have full citizenship including the right to vote. Those Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem are under civil law so have residency, but not citizenship; they pay taxes but can't vote. Those Palestinians who live in the West Bank or Gaza Strip have no legal rights, limited movement, but pay taxes. Just as a reminder: The Oslo II Accord, which was never a signed agreement divided the Israeli-occupied West Bank into three administrative divisions: Areas A, B and C. The distinct areas were given different statuses, according to their governance pending a final status accord. Area A is exclusively administered by the Palestinian Authority; Area B is administered by both the Palestinian Authority and Israel; and Area C, which contains the Israeli settlements, is administered by the Israeli government. Areas A and B contain Palestinians by drawing lines around their population centers at the time the Agreement was signed; all areas surrounding Areas A and B were defined as Area C.
Today my notes will come from my tour guide, who is a Palestinian living in Israel, he has residency, but not citizenship. There were four of us who were touring with Mohammad, who drove and provided us information.
Those Palestinians who lived in Israeli territory before 1948 have full citizenship including the right to vote. Those Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem are under civil law so have residency, but not citizenship; they pay taxes but can't vote. Those Palestinians who live in the West Bank or Gaza Strip have no legal rights, limited movement, but pay taxes. Just as a reminder: The Oslo II Accord, which was never a signed agreement divided the Israeli-occupied West Bank into three administrative divisions: Areas A, B and C. The distinct areas were given different statuses, according to their governance pending a final status accord. Area A is exclusively administered by the Palestinian Authority; Area B is administered by both the Palestinian Authority and Israel; and Area C, which contains the Israeli settlements, is administered by the Israeli government. Areas A and B contain Palestinians by drawing lines around their population centers at the time the Agreement was signed; all areas surrounding Areas A and B were defined as Area C.
Area A comprises approximately 18% of the West Bank and Area B about 22%, together home to some 2.8 million Palestinians. As of 2015, Area C is home to 150,000 Palestinians in 532 residential areas. It is also home to 389,250 Israelis in 135 settlements, as well as 100 outposts unrecognized by the Israeli government.
The separation wall, the building of which began in 2002 was suppose to follow the 1948 Green Line, but it began to change and include many of the Israeli settlements with Sharon's re-election in 2006. We saw evidence of roads to Palestinian villages blocked.
Ironically Palestinians are the main labor force for building the Israeli settlements and working in the industrial sites. They often make twice the salary they would make locally.
Separation Wall
Separation Wall
Entrance road to a Palestinian village blocked. To enter, the villagers will have to go around through another village to their village if in a vehicle. Why is it blocked?
Palestinian farm land with settlements on the hill in the background. Separation wall and road can be seen below. We talked to a Palestinian farmer who has to get permission to work his own land. Israeli security often has to protect Palestinian farmers from Israeli settlers.while they are working their own land.
This farmer had a little cafe where tourists would stop and have coffee and buy olive oil and spices. When the separation wall and road were put in, the tourists no longer traveled by his house. I was able to buy olive oil and spices from him.
Recognized and illegal Israeli settlements
Barkan Industrial Site-Israeli industry on Palestinian confiscated land. Probably does hire Palestinians.
This Palestinian shepherd is grazing his sheep and goats on his land. An armed security guard from a nearby settlement walked over and allowed his large aggressive dog to attack one of the shepherd's goats and chase one of his sheep away (followed the sheep. It is speculated that the dog probably killed the sheep, leaving two new-born lambs). The guard shot at the shepherd and tried to take the shepherd's phone after the shepherd took a picture of him. We drove up right after it happened and the shepherd was calling the Israeli police. We stayed until the Israeli police (with an army officer) arrived. The shepherd told our guide that he doesn't expect that anything will happen except the police will go find the security guard and hopefully the guard will not retaliate, but instead stay away.
Injured goat-the dog bit it in the thigh
There are still small pockets of Bedoin shepherds. While they used to be nomadic, they now live in one area, but in rather harsh conditions. They are often at the mercy of the settlers.
An orphan goat took a fancy to my shoe laces. We accepted tea with the wife/mother. Her husband was in the fields with his sheep.
I stayed two nights in Jerusalem with a Jewish family. They were preparing and celebrating Purim, although only with a few friends. The Virus had led to prohibition of any large groups.
The separation wall, the building of which began in 2002 was suppose to follow the 1948 Green Line, but it began to change and include many of the Israeli settlements with Sharon's re-election in 2006. We saw evidence of roads to Palestinian villages blocked.
Ironically Palestinians are the main labor force for building the Israeli settlements and working in the industrial sites. They often make twice the salary they would make locally.
Separation Wall
Separation Wall
Entrance road to a Palestinian village blocked. To enter, the villagers will have to go around through another village to their village if in a vehicle. Why is it blocked?
Palestinian farm land with settlements on the hill in the background. Separation wall and road can be seen below. We talked to a Palestinian farmer who has to get permission to work his own land. Israeli security often has to protect Palestinian farmers from Israeli settlers.while they are working their own land.
This farmer had a little cafe where tourists would stop and have coffee and buy olive oil and spices. When the separation wall and road were put in, the tourists no longer traveled by his house. I was able to buy olive oil and spices from him.
Recognized and illegal Israeli settlements
Barkan Industrial Site-Israeli industry on Palestinian confiscated land. Probably does hire Palestinians.
This Palestinian shepherd is grazing his sheep and goats on his land. An armed security guard from a nearby settlement walked over and allowed his large aggressive dog to attack one of the shepherd's goats and chase one of his sheep away (followed the sheep. It is speculated that the dog probably killed the sheep, leaving two new-born lambs). The guard shot at the shepherd and tried to take the shepherd's phone after the shepherd took a picture of him. We drove up right after it happened and the shepherd was calling the Israeli police. We stayed until the Israeli police (with an army officer) arrived. The shepherd told our guide that he doesn't expect that anything will happen except the police will go find the security guard and hopefully the guard will not retaliate, but instead stay away.
Injured goat-the dog bit it in the thigh
There are still small pockets of Bedoin shepherds. While they used to be nomadic, they now live in one area, but in rather harsh conditions. They are often at the mercy of the settlers.
An orphan goat took a fancy to my shoe laces. We accepted tea with the wife/mother. Her husband was in the fields with his sheep.
I stayed two nights in Jerusalem with a Jewish family. They were preparing and celebrating Purim, although only with a few friends. The Virus had led to prohibition of any large groups.
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