New opening times are announced at the Agricultural Gate in Deir Al Ghusun. Farmers must pass through the gate in order to reach their land on the other side of the Separation Barrier (though in many cases this land is on the Palestinian side of the Green Line, as much of the barrier is inside Palestinian territory.) The farmers using this gate are the ‘lucky’ ones – their gate is open three times a day, seven days a week. Other farmers are not so lucky - some gates only open three days a week, or only during the olive harvesting season. It means famers cannot rest in the mid-day heat and return to work later, or return home in an emergency. Farmers tell us that it is increasingly difficult to get permits to cross the barrier, even to land they can prove that they own.
3 months in the West Bank town of Tulkarm with The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. (EAPPI) EAPPI brings internationals to the West Bank to experience life under occupation. Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) provide protective presence to vulnerable communities, monitor and report human rights abuses and support Palestinians and Israelis working together for peace and carrying out advocacy work.
The views contained in this blog are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of my sending organisation(QPSW), the EAPPI programme or the World Council of Churches.
