The West Bank Barrier

Profile: Khirbet Jubara

UPDATE AUGUST 2005

South of Tulkarm town, the barrier has isolated the village of Jubara and large amounts of agricultural land, as well as land from the villages from Ras, Far’un, and Kufr Sur which are on the ‘West Bank’ side of the barrier.  The Jubara Enclave has been declared a closed military zone and residents of Jubara must hold permits to continue to live in the ‘seam zone’. Landowners from the neighboring villages can apply for permits to enter the ‘seam zone’ to tend their lands, but over the last several months, the number of temporary permits being issued has been steadily declining. Only property owners are eligible.   There is no physical barrier between this village and Israeli communities across the Green Line, but it is forbidden for Jubara residents to enter Israel without the required permit.

The village of Jubara lies 1.4 kilometres south of Kafriat checkpoint on Route 574.   The passage of West Bank products into this enclave has been severely restricted.  This village, which is without health, education or other facilities, is cut off from the rest of the West Bank. Isolation is particularly severe when the Israeli authorities impose closures due to heightened security concerns or during Jewish holidays.  The village used to have a vibrant economy with 10 poultry farms and numerous greenhouses but these businesses have shut down or are floundering.  Unemployment stands at 90 percent.  Social life for the village has also been severely affected, as people from the neighboring villages cannot enter Jubara without permits which are generally difficult to secure unless you are a resident or a close family member of a resident. Israeli citizens and internationals are allowed to cross into this enclave without permits.  There are two isolated houses owned by UNRWA registered refugees in the ‘seam zone’ south of Jubara and access is only possible along the patrol road.  (See accompanying Case study ‘Isolation of two refugee-owned houses in Ras village, Tulkarm’ - Oct. 2003).

After the construction of the barrier, the Israeli authorities moved the Green Line checkpoint several kilometers east into the West Bank to the junction of Route 557 and 574.   Route 574 is the north-south route that allows the residents in the neighbouring villages to access their land in the Jubara enclave, and the town of Tulkarm.  Soldiers at the relocated Kafriat checkpoint control travel in all directions including Route 574. Closures and delays at this checkpoint are creating severe difficulties for Palestinians who live in the Tulkarm governorate, although the imminent opening of the Tulkarm tunnel, which will connect the Kafriat villages in the south to Tulkarm, may ease restrictions.

In October 2004, the Israeli authorities informed residents of Jubara that they would realign the barrier to the west so that the village and the two refugee-owned houses will be on the ‘West Bank’ side.  Some 522 dunums are to be confiscated as part of the realignment of the barrier.  In Ras village, some land currently isolated, including farmland that is currently under the barrier, will be returned to the ‘West Bank’ side – about 40 – 50 percent will remain isolated instead of the current 90 percent.   Far’un village will, therefore, recover just a few hundred dunums of land currently isolated.

After the new route is completed, Jubara village will no longer be in the ‘seam zone’ but landowners will have to apply for permits to reach their lands. Thousands of olive trees were destroyed in the initial construction of the fence, and thousands more will be uprooted in the realignment process.    The Israeli authorities have indicated that they will commence the realignment once the tunnel is completed.

The following table includes population and refugee statistics for the Jubara enclave and the villages (Ras, Kufr Sur and Far’un) whose lands lie beyond the barrier in the enclave.

Access/ Permits/Gate issues

• Kafriat checkpoint: This is the only access point into and out of Jubara for adult residents with valid permits. Landowners from the neighbouring villages also use this checkpoint to reach their property inside the enclave. Village councils report that the number of landowners being issued permits to the Jubara enclave is steadily declining.

• Ras Gate: This gate, which was by Jubara children to cross to neighbouring schools, was operational from August 2003 to March 2004.  In March 2004, the IDF made arrangements for a bus to take the children to schools in Ras, Kufr Sur and Kufr Zibad.  This gate was reopened in early August 2004, closed again at the beginning of olive harvest season; then reopened in November 2004.

• Salit Gate. Palestinian labourers working for Salit settlement and a few farmers from Kufr Jammal use this gate.

• Far’un Gate. This gate would provide the most direct access for landowners in Far’un village to get to their lands in Jubara.  However, it is closed.

Jubara

• ‘Long term resident’ permits are now compulsory for all Jubara residents over the age of 12; those under age 12 can enter or leave with their parents. Permits are issued to individuals, not to family heads. One sentence on the back of the permit reads: "This permit does not give the bearer the right of ownership or the right to live legally in the area."

Kafriat villages

• A majority of the land in Jubara enclave is owned by non-residents from Ras, Kufr Sur, and Far’un villages. The Israeli authorities only allow landowners to apply for permits. In January 2005, residents were informed that only the sons and daughters of landowners will be eligible for permits; in general, grandchildren regardless of their age will not be given permits.   Also, since the 25 February 2005 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, permits have been difficult to secure as the suicide bomber was from the Tulkarm area (Deir Ghussan)   Gates in the area were closed for almost a month, but the Kafriat checkpoint was operational allowing most owners to get to their lands.

• Ras village has 8,000 dunums of land, representing 90 percent of total village land, containing olive and almond trees, in the Jubara enclave. About 140 families are affected, five of whom are UNRWA-registered refugees. A well is also isolated beyond the barrier.  With the exception of the 2004 olive harvest season, the number of owners able to acquire permits to use the checkpoint has been steadily declining.  After February 2005, only elderly men and women or children have been issued permits. By June 2005, only 19 persons have permits to cross to their land.

• Kufr Sur village has 2,353 dunums of land, mostly olive trees, isolated beyond the barrier in the Jubara enclave. This represents about 60 to 65 percent of the land owned by the villagers, and in some cases represents the landowner’s complete holding.  Forty-five families (about 1200 persons) are affected.  When the gate and permit regime became first operational in October 2003, only about 10 to 15 families received permits, the majority for about two weeks.  In the later part of 2004, more people who applied were issued permits, in particular during the olive harvest. However, by the beginning of January 2005, only about 30 percent of those needing permits are obtaining them.

• Far’un village has 8,000 dunums of which 4,000 are beyond the barrier.   About 150 families (400 farmers) are affected, about 10 of whom are refugee families.  The scheduled realignment will not affect the amount of land that is currently isolated beyond the barrier.   Initially, a majority of farmers (90 percent) managed to obtain permits, but since January 2005, permits have been more difficult to secure. Until the end of November 2004, labourers were able to secure permits, but this is no longer the case.  In February and March 2005, many landowners were denied permits, despite having secured them in the past, apparently because of the February 25 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

• Tulkarm town. About 20 – 30 families from Tulkarm own land in Jubara: of these nine families are from Tulkarm refugee camp. None of these families was able to obtain permits for the 2004 olive harvest.

Health and Emergency Services –Jubara

• There is no permanent health facility in Jubara. The nearest hospital is in Tulkarm.  In addition to the monthly visit by UNRWA mobile clinic, health teams from a private charity and the Palestinian Authority visit Jubara twice a month.  Ambulances must be summoned from Tulkarm and are allowed into the village through Kafriat checkpoint for emergency cases only. Villagers say that on days of closure ambulances are not allowed in. Villagers seeking to go to Tulkarm for routine health care show permits at Kafriat checkpoint, but can be delayed for hours. Villagers can no longer easily visit the doctor in Ras village. The rubbish-collection truck is allowed in infrequently or not at all.

Education - Jubara

• There are no schools in Jubara. Village students, about 88 in total, attend school in Tulkarm, or are bused to schools in Ras and Kufr Sur and Kufr Zibad, unless there is a closure.  The teachers of the secondary schools in Kufr Sur and Kufr Zibad report that it was very difficult for the children to participate in after-school events and in sports. The villagers want to build a school in Jubara for grades one to four.  However, for over a year and a half the Israeli authorities have been denying the village a permit.

Socio-Economic issues- Jubara

• There is one small grocery store which sells only basic commodities such as soap powder, crisps and sweets and some tinned goods; however, the sell no fresh food or produce such as vegetables, fruits or eggs. This store is restricted to products the owner can bring into the enclave by the soldiers at Kafriat checkpoint.

• Sixty dunums of land used to be planted for greenhouses; 40 dunums of greenhouses are now not in use because of the barrier.

• Jubara used to have 10 poultry farms; only one still operates.