Reflections on Farmer's Lifestyles

This was a different agriculture gate for us today.  Not knowing how long it would take to get to Qaffin, Esther and I started out an hour earlier than the gate was scheduled to be opened.  When we arrived it was already daylight so it was easy to see who was waiting to be allowed on the road to access their farmland.

Waiting For a Day in the Fields

Esther talks with coffee vender

 The farmers were in a good mood as they waited patiently at the gate.  Most of them know each other because they are from the same area and they may have adjoining land on the other side of the gate.  Even on this very pleasant morning looking at the beautiful landscape with the natural rocks and olive trees it is disrupted by the Israeli military presence which seems to be out of place.  I kept thinking to myself….why does there need to be three fully armed soldiers in a huge heavy duty military vehicle there to let farmers and donkeys access their own land? 

Qaffin Gate From Distance Showing Army Vehicle

It doesn’t make sense but many things don’t make sense in a land when military occupation has gone on far longer than necessary.  And while the farmers accept the tight restrictive system we heard plenty of farmers wanting more say in when they go to their own fields and when they return to their home.  For instance, the Qaffin the gate is only opened 3 days a week--Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Whose convenience is that?  When Friday is the official religious day of the week for the Muslim population, why would anyone want to work on their Sabbath? 

As we stood on our duty we also noticed that the farmers themselves collected all the permits and took them to the receiving officer so he could check them all out on the computer.  When the soldiers decided to start letting the farmers come through it was the farmers themselves who called out each name on the permits as each farmer heard their name and came through.  All the soldiers did was stand there with their huge rifles while the rest of the organizational effort was accomplished by the farmers. 

 I just imagined how much better it would be if the farmers just got up the in morning, ate breakfast with their families, decided by themselves when would be a good time to get out to the field and returned when their goal for that particular day was realized.  I’ve known many farmers in my life and I have always admired the way they know exactly when to do certain things to keep their land and their crops in the best possible condition. 

I'm looking at stone fence in Nazlat Isa

 After our morning duties we toured some of the surrounding land.  As you can see the soil is quite rocky.  But olive trees thrive in this kind of terrain.  We were told that it takes 20 years for olive trees to begin producing.  So you can understand how painful it is for these farmers to see their precious olive trees destroyed to make room for illegal settlers or to make room for barriers and roads that are imposed upon them.

Farmers here face the same uncertainties of weather as do farmers in South Dakota.  But when you add the restrictive system of access imposed by the Israeli Defense Forces, it adds a tremendous burden to the already difficult life of farming.  I have a great deal of admiration for these men.  Their long-suffering and patience is almost beyond my imagination.

I thank all of you for your prayers on my behalf.  Please add to your prayers these Palestinian people who daily face such humiliation and control.

Susanne