Jama’in
cathi on October 24th, 2004The last 2 days we’ve been picking with families from Jama’in, a small town of 11-12,000 people on the western side of the road between Ariel settlement and Zattara junction, opposite Marda. The reason for picking with these people is because their groves are situated right beneath the Tappuach outpost above Yasuf, and almost every day since the harvesting began these faremrs have been harrassed and intimidated by gun-toting settlers.
WE went back to Jama’in after 2 peaceful days’ harvesting, to talk to a family whose son, Mahmud Hajali, broke his leg in two places because whilst out picking on Tuesday with his family, 4 settlers with guns appeared over the ridge. Being high up the tree he saw them first, and in his haste to get down and move his family tosafety he fell from the tree, breaking his leg. He had to be transported off the hill on a donkey before an ambulance could pick him up on the road.
Mahmud’s family told us that they, and most of their fellow villagers, would no longer go out harvesting this year unless accompanied by internationals - they are too afraid of settler attacks. Last year one of Mahmud’s uncles was beaten up so badly in the groves that he spent a week bedridden. Last week the settlers stole a horse and the entire day’s harvest, as well as hurling rocks at the villagers. WE met another man, Mahfoud, from Jama’in whose hand was still bandaged as as result of the injury sustained that day.
The family have about 120 olive trees, all near the settlement of Tappuach, which would take 2 weeks to harvest. We can only accompany them for the few days that we are here. After that, perhaps the Rabbis for Human Rights can go out with them - but there is no certainty of this and the villagers need to know in advance in order to prepare for harvesting.
Mahmud’s leg will take 2-3 months to heal. Because the Palestinian economy is so stunted by restrictions on movements and work permits, he has to work in the settlement of Ariel on construction of new houses. It’s hard to imagine how difficult thios must be - working on the expansion of a settlement that is illegally on your land in the first place! Of course he will get no sick pay, so life for him and his family of 6 will be very hard until he recovers and can work again.
In fact, while we were waiting for a lift to the groves one morning we watched as two Israeli pick-up trucks came to collect workers from the roadblock obstructing Jama’in’s exit to the main road. Palestinians often have no choice but to work in the ISraeli settlements or industrial zones situated on their doorstep. Any hope of a fair wage, or of sick pay, pensions or paid holiday is non-existent. It’s a very feudal, colonial society - and the sheer barefaced racism we encounter every day really sticks in my throat.
