The West Bank Barrier

Profile: Mas'ha

UPDATE AUGUST 2005

The constructed section of the barrier terminates just south of Mas-ha village which is located on Route 505, six kilometres from the Green Line. The village is adjacent to Elkana settlement (built in 1978) which is also located on route 505. There are two other settlements in the area - Sha’arei Tikva (north west of Mas’ha) and Ets Efrayim (north of Mas-ha) established in 1982 and 1985 respectively. These settlements lie between Mas-ha and the villages of Sanniriya and Beit Amin. Mas-ha village lost 1,000 dunums of land when these two settlements were constructed.

The head of the village council reports that with the construction of the barrier 90 percent of the community’s land has became isolated. Four hundred and eighty dunums were lost to the barrier and 4,000 dunums have been isolated, affecting 360 families. The village is left with 500 dunums, of which 300 dunums are built up (residential, commercial and infrastructure).

Mas’ha has strong economic and social ties with the villages of Azun Atme, Sanniriya and Beit Amin in the West Bank, but the strongest familial ties are with Kufr Kassem, located nine kilometres across the Green Line in Israel. In 1920, residents from Mas-ha village moved west to take advantage of superior agricultural land, establishing the village of Kufr Kassem. During the Arab-Israeli war of 1948, Palestinians fled their villages and about 30 percent of Palestinians from Kufr Kassem returned to Mas-ha. Families were split between the two communities, Kufr Kassem, which became part of Israel, and Mas-ha the West Bank. Prior to September 2000, there was significant interaction between the two communities, but with the completion of the barrier, a trip which used to take 10 minutes by car now lasts at least one and a half hours.

Social, economic and familial ties between Mas-ha and Azun Atme, Sanniriya and Beit Amin have also been affected with transport time increasing from a few minutes to as much as 30 minutes. The barrier has obstructed the direct route on Route 446, as this road is closed by a gate (Mas-ha North, or Gate 46) which is restricted for agricultural access only. The residents now take a circuitous route east through Biddya village to reach what once were neighbouring villages.

A lone house inhabited by a refugee family is isolated between a concrete wall and a fence (see accompanying case study ‘Trapped Between a Barrier and a Settlement). During the construction of the barrier, activist groups set up a peace tent near Gate No 48 to protest against the barrier.

Access/ Permits/Gate issues

• All the farmers have land isolated beyond the barrier; about 40 percent of the residents are UNRWA registered refugees. Most owners (approximately 80 percent) have secured permits that are valid for three to six months. As of May 2005, permits are being issued for two years.

• Since January 2005, landowners have been advised by the IDF that only the landowner and his immediate first generation decedents are eligible for permits. These include wife, son, daughter, brother and sister. Residents have been informed verbally that grandchildren are not eligible unless the grandparent is deceased and proper proof of inheritance is provided. However, residents confirm that some grandchildren are still managing to secure permits.

In order to be considered for a permit the owners must submit the following to the Israeli authorities:

• A document (ikhraj qayd) showing ownership of land, generally identifying many family members as joint owners).

• Proof of inheritance (haser erth), required if there is a death of a land owner; this is obtained from the Palestinian religious court (Almahkama E-Sharya).

• Certificate from village council affirming that the person is known to the village council and is a land owner.

• There are three gates in the barrier which could be used by Mas-ha residents to access their lands. Mas-ha Gate (Gate 47) on Route 505 between Mas-ha and Elkana settlement; Mas-ha North Gate (Gate 46) on Route 446 between Mas-ha and Sanniriya village; and Azzun Atme (Gate 48) which is the access gate to the Azun Atme enclave.

• Mas-ha Gate (Gate 47) has been permanently closed since 6 December 2003, and is only used by IDF soldiers. A majority of Mas-ha residents have land in Azun Atme itself or just west of Azun Atme. Prior to the construction of the barrier, farmers would use Route 505 to reach their lands in Azun Atme and beyond (3 to 4 kilometres away). Now to reach their lands, the farmers have to travel a circuitous route of about 30 kilometres crossing through the Azun Atme Gate (Gate 48). What used to be minutes away is now a one hour trip if there is no delay at the Azun Atme gate. On 26 December 2003, during an anti -barrier demonstration, an Israeli citizen and a foreigner were injured by IDF fire at Gate 47. A refugee family is isolated between this gate and Elkana settlement.

• Mas-ha North Gate (Gate 46) is for agricultural purposes only and from November 2003 until July 2005 had been open for about 30 minutes three times daily. In June 2005, the IDF had informed the residents that as of July 2005, they intended to open this gate only during the olive harvest season. However, due to pressure from the community and international organizations, since July this gate is opened two days a week – in the morning and in the afternoon. People, livestock and tools are allowed to pass through this gate; agricultural or other vehicles are not. Few farmers use this gate as most of the villagers’ land is located near Azun Atme.

• Mas-ha farmers are using farm equipment from Azun Atme since they are not allowed to bring their own equipment through the Azun Atme Gate (Gate 48). However, residents of Azun Atme are reluctant to provide farm equipment to any property owner whose land is close to the settlements for fear that the equipment will be vandalized or confiscated.

Health

• There is a doctor in Mas-ha (General Practitioner), and a health clinic in Biddya which is three kilometers east of Mas-ha. UNRWA mobile heath team visits one a week. A rotating team of specialists from Tulkarm hospital also provide health services. Tertiary care is available in Qalqilya and Nablus Hospitals.