Jayus

By Nick Sarchet

July 20, 2003

Jayus is a village about 7 km from the green line, south of Tulkarm.  

The village used to have approximately 4,500 residents, but now 

contains only 2,500.  Many have become refugees living 

in other countries due to fear and loss of property and land.

Currently, the IOF is creating part of the “security” fence right 

through the agricultural lands of the Jayus villagers.  The people of Jayus depend 

on their crops to provide them with not only food, but also income.  Crops include 

various fruits and vegetables, as well as olive trees. 

There is only one gate that villagers are allowed to use to access their fields.  

This means villagers must travel farther distances to reach their land.  

In addition, security guards employed by the construction company 

building the fence patrol the gate and fence.

These guards are armed with semi-automatic rifles and wear bulletproof 

vests.  While they have no official authority, they often will question 

the villagers, check their ids, and search their carts, vehicles, and 

persons.  The security guards have been known to beat Palestinians attempting

 to access the gate and have fired shots at both villagers and internationals

 walking along the fence on the Palestinian side.

In an attempt to help the villagers, internationals have created a 

presence in both the village and in the fields.  A number of local farmers

 have chosen to sleep on the land where their crops grow.  This land is 

now on the Israeli side of the fence, although it is well within the boundaries 

of the 1967 green line.

Last night I, along with 2 other internationals joined some of the 

farmers in their fields.  We began the walk down at about 7 pm.  The sun 

was setting.  The walk took about 45 minutes.  There are a few tents set-up

 near the greenhouses of Mamoud.  He is 33 and has a wife and a 3-year old

 daughter.  He cooked a delicious stew, with fresh vegetables from his land 

over a fire.  We drank chai, told stories, and danced to the staticy music 

over the ham radio.  Mamoud entertained everyone with his impressions 

of King Hussein and Arafat.  After many laughs and cups of chai, we laid 

out on cushions under the star filled sky.

At around 2 am, just as we were dozing off, the cell phone rang.  Shots 

were being fired in the village by the military.  Everyone seemed to be ok, 

just shaken up and scared.  We had seen no signs of the military in the fields 

during the night and assured our friends we were ok and encouraged them to

 stay safe.  The only thing to disturb our peace that night was the packs of 

wild dogs.

Shortly after 6 am, Joseph and I awoke to travel up to the gate to 

observe.  We sat at the gate and greeted the Palestinians as they headed for 

their fields.  Two security guards were working the gate, but were very aware 

of our obvious presence.  I had my video camera and made no pretense of 

filming their interactions with the villagers.  Many they let past without 

checking ids or searching them.  With a few they made cursory checks of their 

ids.  In one instance, the guard came to the rear of a large truck presumably

 carrying crates of produce.  He lifted the tarp in the rear of the truck, but could

 not see in due to the tailgate.  He let the truck move on.  I believe that  these are

 just techniques to hassle the Palestinians.  If they were really concerned with 

security, he would have really looked in the back of the truck, not just pretended to. 

 They will also question villagers as they return to their homes.  What threat are 

they to the Israelis if they are walking home or riding a donkey.  These are 

acts of harassment and intimidation.  Many of the farmers question whether

 it is even worth planting on their lands.  What will happen when the fence is

 finished around the village? Will the gate be permanently closed?  Will their 

only way to access their livelihood depend on the availability of willing 

internationals?

The affects of the wall/fence are truly devastating.  It is unconscionable 

that we can accept Israel’s claims that this fence/wall is only for

 their protection.  In Jayus there is visible proof that they are attempting to take 

thousands of acres of prime agricultural land that rightly belongs to the Palestinians. 

The truth must be told.  Please help me spread the word.

By the way, when we returned to the village around 9:30 this morning, 

we were told that the lights had been shot out at the Mosque during the 

night.  The culprits were Israeli Border Patrol soldiers.  N addition to firing 

upon the mosque, they also fired many rounds into a car parked outside the

local mechanic’s shop.  No injuries have been reported by villagers or 

internationals.

In peace,

Nick Sarchet

972-1-067-278-105

 Note:  Upon my return to the States I will include pictures of the 

fence, gate, and the lands affected.