Between a rock and a hard place

Nabi Samwil street

Life is difficult for the 250 Palestinians in the hilltop village of Nabi Samwil (The Prophet Samuel, whose tomb is there), because of their location. They are in the "seam zone" on the Israeli side of the separation barrier, adjacent to the Israeli settlement of Ramot, in Area C, which means total Israeli control. If they are caught working in Israel without a permit, which many of them have to do to feed their families, they can spend two or three months in jail--six months if they are repeat offenders.


Community activists Eid and Nawal Barakat met today with  Israelis to seek their support for bringing international attention to the village's plight and consider starting some demonstrations to relieve their restrictions on movement.

Eid Barakat, a contractor, and his wife Nawal, a teacher
and president of the Feminist Association

Eid showing picture of the part of the village
 demolished by Israel in 1971

Residents of Nabi Samwil have to go through a checkpoint to Ramallah for shopping, and Eid told a sad story of his family's attempt to return last year with a bag of barley. Soldiers at the checkpoint refused to let him bring it in, saying that he had bread, eggs, and meat, and didn't need the barley. He says the border police pushed him, and his 16-year-old son said "don't push my father" and got sprayed with gas. Eid and his son were both handcuffed and detained from 6 p.m until 4 a.m., and were released on bail pending trial. Eid is still waiting for the photos from the checkpoint security camera that he requested to prove that his  behavior was nonviolent, and he cannot get a permit to go to Jerusalem.

Nabi Samwil's playground and store

Israeli authorities have demolished additions to Eid and Nawal's home three times, and many  houses in the village have received demolition orders for their additions, which could be executed at any time. It is virtually impossible for Palestinians to get a permit to build in construction in Area C.

A Nabi Samwil family enjoys a water pipe

Because of the village's location, Eid says that "we feel like we are under arrest and nobody is taking care of us. We would like Israel to let us in, or to be placed under the Palestinian Authority."