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Women step on rocks to avoid sewage |
More than 30 women from the Salfit area gathered in Wadi
Qana on March 30, 2005, Palestinian Land Day, to celebrate their land and
protest its destruction by Israel’s impending Wall and pollution from
settlements. Land Day commemorates the 1976 killing of six Palestinians in
the Galilee by Israeli troops during peaceful protests over the confiscation
of Palestinian lands.
Protesters gathered near the polluted water carrying signs and flags against
the Israeli military occupation and the Apartheid Wall. Despite the noxious
smells, the women were enthusiastic and focused, chanting and singing as
journalists and photographers clicked away on their cameras. Women of all
ages and colors stood together in defense of their land and the freedom it
represents.
There was no army present until the demonstrators sat down to rest and eat
and an army jeep pulled up and parked above the peaceful women. One child
began to cry from fear, and her mother tried to comfort her. Suddenly some
of the younger women began to cheer and sing, and as the other demonstrators
joined in, the child stopped crying; the women had taken back control. The
protesters left shortly after, with the army still parked and watching.
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Girls lead chants facing soldiers who sit in jeeps above |
Why Wadi Qana?
Wadi Qana is a place almost as soothing as it is beautiful: a fertile valley
with seven main natural springs and nine smaller ones, and the endless Wadi
Qana river running through it. The river meanders from Huwara, south of Nablus,
to Jaljuliye, south of Qalqilya, and then flows into the Yarqon, or Naher
el Ooja River. Wadi Qana is between two ranges of hills, making it very suitable
for citrus plantations. Indeed, the orange trees and lemon trees spread along
the river and shine in the morning sun.
One of the local farmers harvesting oranges, Abu Nafez, is particularly
enthusiastic about the richness of the yield and offers the visitors delicious
oranges of the “Valencia” and “Fransiya” sort, the
latter being sweeter and smaller.
Wadi Qana is also the name of a village that was emptied of its inhabitants
because life became simply intolerable. Its former residents now live in
Deir Istya, a village in the Salfit district that historically contained
all of the current Israeli settlement land that now surrounds Wadi Qana.
Deir Istya is now only a tiny fraction of its original size.
The beauty of the Wadi Qana valley hides rampant pollution that has plagued
the village since the surrounding Israeli settlements were built. Sewage
pours down the hillsides into the valley, some through pipes and some directly
onto the landscape.
The settlement of Imanu’el, built in 1982 to the east of Wadi Qana,
poisons the entrance of the valley. Just off the main road, there is a large
grey-colored pool. Once an active water source, now greyish bubbles rise
to the surface. Nearby is a filtration/recycling station built in 1985, which
was always far from sufficient to recycle the constant sewage, most of which
pours from Imanu’el’s houses and agricultural industries.
Ironically, this valley has been classified as a nature reserve by Israeli
authorities. But the river is black and grey. The surrounding vegetation
is dead.
South of the valley, Yaqir stands as two settlements, one built in 1982
and the other in 1987. Yaqir sends sewage down a lateral pipe into the valley.
This pipe is too small for its content and from the beginning it has been
overflowing into the valley. The first spring that was contaminated by Yaqir
is called Ein el Joze, “the source of the nut tree.” Another
polluted spring nearby was once called Ein al Maghassel, “the source
of the washing place,” where women came during Ottoman times to wash
clothes and carpets.
To the north, two settlements—Nevi Menachem, built in 1987, and Karnei
Shomron, built in 1978—and one outpost—Nov Qana, built in 2002—release
their sewage down into this precious valley.
To the west, the settlement Ginot Shomron, built in 1983, closes the circle
around the valley.
Besides pollution, Palestinans must deal with other factors harming their
land. The Karnei Shomron settlers have often raided the land in the valley,
uprooted trees, damaged and destroyed irrigation systems, greenhouses, and
especially expensive water pumps. Palestinian farmers cannot even prevent
land damage caused by wild pigs that some locals fear were introduced by
settlers: villagers are unable to kill or use traps to control the pigs as
it would fall under the prohibition of Palestinians to possess weapons.
Deep in the valley there still exists a spring that has not been polluted.
One local explains, “It was not a major spring before the environmental
contamination, but now it is the only clear water source we have.” The
running water, gathered in a concrete and stone basin surrounded by iron
wire and a gate, refreshes visitors. “The settlers have tried to break
the fence of the water collector”. The criminal raids of settlers who
want to chase away the inhabitants are visible even here.
The area was once a spring of life: children went to school on foot to Deir
Istya, five kilometers away (British rule had introduced school for all in
1923). The fruitful valley provided the village’s main sources of income:
agriculture (oranges, lemons, plums, wheat, vegetables, chickpeas, and lentils)
and animal farming (sheep, goats).
The mayor shows visitors the ruins of the house of his great grandfather
and quotes the famous Zionist lie about “a country without people.” He
was born here, raised in a lateral valley, west of Wadi Qana, called Khirbet
el Shehadi. Another villager, now a member of the municipal council of Deir
Istya, added that he and many others had lived there, grazed goats with his
grandfather, drunk the water, and learned to swim in the river amidst the
chalk rocks.
Around 350 people used to live in the valley until most of them were forced
to leave in 1986. The ruins of their houses are still visible beneath the
Karnei Shomron settlement. The mayor recounts a typical example of the army’s
policy of eviction which happened to his uncle, Yusef Mansour: he built a
house in the valley, only to have it demolished in 1982 by the Israeli army.
He then placed a metal shack on his land but was never allowed to live in
it. Only temporary life is possible here.
Wadi Qana, a paradise despite the ugliness of pollution, is being throttled
by the ever growing presence of settlers. The “baggers” and bulldozers
work daily, pounding the earth with their brutal thumps, perhaps to prepare
for more settlers to come (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s government
decided in the last days of February 2005 to build six thousand more housing
units in the West Bank).
A map showing the expected path of the wall reiterates that Israel claims
this land. The same claim was made clear again as visitors to Wadi Qana were
interrupted by a broad squatting military vehicle, demanding what pedestrians
were doing there. Visiting was permitted.
One last image remains from near the only remaining fresh water spring.
A eucalyptus tree rises from an old uprooted stem: a small sign of hope and
strength.
Text: IWPS Team
Pictures: Dorothée and Hannah
Sources of information about Wadi Qana include the mayor of Deir Istya and
a member of the municipal council of Deir Istya. For more information contact
IWPS.
Copyright © 2005 by IWPS. All rights reserved.
This copyright protects IWPS's right to future publication of our work.
Non-profit, activist, and educational groups may circulate these reports
and photos (forward them, reprint them, translate them, post them, or reproduce
them) for non-profit uses consistent with the goals of IWPS and the Palestinian
liberation movement. Please do not change any part of it without permission.
International Women's Peace Service (IWPS)
Hares, Salfit
Telephone: 09 251 66 44
Copyright (c) 2002 by IWPS. All rights reserved.
This copyright protects IWPS's right to future publication of our work. Nonprofit,
activist, and educational groups may circulate these reports and photos
(forward them, reprint them, translate them, post them, or reproduce them)
for nonprofit uses consistent with the goals of IWPS and the Palestinian
liberation movement. Please do not change any part of it without permission.
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