Farming made harder

Separation barrier in farmland north of Tulkarem

A decade ago, when Israel was experiencing suicide bomber attacks in the second Intifada, it started building the separation barrier.

A few miles north of Tulkarm, the barrier is no 27-foot-high concrete wall, as it is in some other places. It is only a chain link fence with some concertina wire, just enough to impede access by Palestinian farmers to their land in the "seam zone" between the barrier and the Green Line (1949 armistice line).

Deir al-Ghusun agricultural gate, waiting shelter at right

Israel allows farmers limited access to their fields though half a dozen agricultural gates in theTulkarm area. They have to apply for permits through Palestinian and Israeli authorities, and the process can take between a week and a month.

We visited the Deir al-Ghusun gate, which is only open for 45-minutes three times daily: morning, noon, and afternoon. If the farmers are late, they cannot enter.

Three donkeys are first in the line to enter the gate. Their masters
came at 6 to be ready for the 6:30 scheduled opening

Local farmer describes access problems

A local farmer says the  barrier destroyed access roads on which he used  to take a tractor to his almond and olive trees. Now he must go by donkey. (Several tractors did transit the gate this morning.) He complains that the gates are not open on Jewish and Muslim holidays, even though he would like to work on holidays. He says, "We were turned back for two days when we were picking olives." He knows of three people who were injured while in the fields and had problems getting medical assistance. "What is needed," he says, "is to take down the wall."

Farmers entering the gate after it opened at 6:37, seven minutes late. It closed punctually though, at 7:15

Female commander of the army unit checks individual permits

Interceding unsuccessfully for farmer denied access

One farmer had a problem this morning. His car broke down so he could not get to the gate for which he had a permit before it closed. He came to Deir al-Ghusun in the hope that the soldiers would let him in,  because his land is accessible from both gates. Ecumenical Accompaniers interceded with the soldiers on his behalf, but they were adamant. Since his permit was not for this gate, he was not allowed in. He will lose a day of work.