Shomron Tour: 7 Stops Over Green Line

Once in while it is good to leave Jerusalem, Israel, and see what is happening in other parts of the country.

An opportunity for a trip to the Shomron was hard to pass up. Three times previously, I joined various groups going over the green line to Judea and Samaria, to the Shomron. I was interested to see how things have changed. Often those who travel a regular route do not notice change as much as one who only goes by occasionally.

Arab houses being built along road outside of Jerusalem Israel

Leaving Jerusalem, one sees how much construction is happening, how built up some areas are today. Above are a few of new Arab houses along the road.

King of Jordan Palace on top of hill near Jerusalem Israel

Neighborhoods stretch out with new dwellings. In the distance, however, is one undeveloped area.

View outside of Jerusalem, Israel unfinished palace King of Jordan

There it is up on the hill, still the same as it was decades ago. The shell of the King of Jordan’s planned summer palace. No one seems to want to touch those dunams of land.

Shomron trip new construction of Leshem

But new Jewish neighborhoods are also under construction, Leshem is a planned and growing community.

Outside of Jerusalem, Israel cattle grazing along side of road

One thing has not changed, along the road one still see piles of junked cars in Arab neighborhoods.

By the Oslo Accords, Judea and Samaria was divided into three areas: Area A, B and C.

To make something extremely complicated  simplified:

Area A is under PA control. B is under PA governance with Israeli security. C is under Israeli control.

Israel Lookout from high elevation can see in all directions

First stop was Pedu’el. From המרפסת של המדינה, HaMirpeset Shel HaMedina, loosely translated as Israel’s Lookout, on a clear day one can see, well almost forever, to the sea. It is one of those spots where one realizes just how small Israel really is.

Fabrics to be recycled in Ofertex factory in Shomron Barkan Industrial park

Ever wonder where those old stained clothes and seconds of wipes end up?

Second stop was at Ofertex manufacturing plant in Barkan Industrial Park.

Spinning threads into recycled fabrics in Barkan Industrial Park factory

I wrote about a visit to Barkan Industrial Park  two years ago. While SodaStream got the media attention, dozens of companies are based in the region. This one recycles fabrics to make cleaning cloths, repackaged under private labels for Walmart, Dollar Stores and European clients too. Oftertex was started by Polish survivors who came to Israel in 1950. Fourth generation owners of this private company employ 120 people. Of the 100 Arab workers, some are third generation employees. Israeli companies pay over three times average PA salaries, plus have better working conditions and benefits.

Industrial park in Shomron, Israel over green line

Thousands of Arab workers are hurt if BDS boycott’s are effective, if production slows or a business is forced to close or relocate.

Security barriers to protect those waiting for bus in Shomron

Back on the road, we passed a memorial to one of too many Israelis who were murdered by terrorists at this bus stop.

Itamar view of part of town

Third Stop was in Itamar, which I had passed on previous trips, but never entered. I had not realized how large and spread out it was.

Shomron, Itamar houses from afar.

A few of Itamar homes in the distance, as seen from Zimerman Farm where we heard the story of Zimerman Family’s pioneering in organic farming.

Itamar view from Zimerman Farms.

Looking out, one sees how getting into Itamar is not so easy, and requires planning. I could not help thinking of the Fogel family as I stood and stared out.

Two Israeli soldiers on watch in cement security in Shomron road

We passed Israeli soldiers standing guard on the road in a cement shelter for protection.

Red signs at road to Arab villages in Shomron forbidding Israelis to enter

And those red warning signs, telling Israelis not to enter PA territory, were posted at the Arab villages of Area A.

Har Bracha, Blessed Mountain, view below

The view on the way to Stop Four on Har Bracha, Blessed Mountain, is worth sharing, even if it was hazy that day.

Har Bracha wine bottles on display for tasting.

Wine tasting with lunch at Har Bracha, demonstrated the quality wines coming from vineyards planted in the once barren land, now producing 50,000 bottles a year.

View of Nablus from lookout above Shechem

My first visit to Shehem, Nablus, inspired an Israellycool post.  Finding Yosef’s Tomb from the safety of the lookout on Mount Gerizim was harder this time.

View of Nablus from lookout above, closest Israeli access to Josef's Tomb

Stop Five showed “the refugee camp” which is still the same cramped, pathetic photo op, as the areas around have grown and sprawled outward in all directions.

Factory owned by Samaritan family having problems selling to EU

A Tahini Factory near the overlook was Stop Six. The owner Yosef HaCohen shared his story of being a Samaritan businessman. Not Jewish. not Muslim. His children are in the school system under PA, and Har Bracha Tahini is trying to do business in Europe, not so easy for a company located in the “West Bank.”

Oven on street preparing food for iftr Ramadan meal

A trip through the Shomron on Ramadan, when Muslims fast all day, and eat after dark, means food places are shut in the morning, but fires get going in late afternoon.

Internet project shows Arab names of towns which were Jewish, used same names

On our last stop before returning to Jerusalem, Michal Eshed shared her Eretz IL research. She has found sources for hundreds of locations with Arab names that were built on top of Jewish sites, where the Hebrew source names were used and translated to Arabic.

Memorial wall in Shomron for fallen

Near the Shomron Community Council building where Eshel shared her power point presentation, is this memorial plaza.

Police checking cars near Ramallah after IDF soldier was mortally wounded

Our bus was stopped by police not far from Ramallah on our return to Jerusalem. Traffic was backed up the other way. We had heard a soldier had been critically wounded.  The police were checking cars, looking for someone. Sadly the young soldier died from his head wound.

The Shomron’s “checkerboard of governance” is complicated. Seven stops on a day trip are like a drop in the bucket. One blog post only provides a small piece of the picture..

Land in Shomron seen from Itamar

I thought to close with a bit of the view overlooking Itamar in the Shomron.

More photos from day can be seen HERE

Interested ro see for yourself? Let me know and I will introduce you to those who want to share the beauty of Eretz Yisrael.

6 thoughts on “Shomron Tour: 7 Stops Over Green Line

  • May 30, 2018 at 11:00 pm
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    As always, I enjoy reading about what is happening in Israel. Your perspective is always very interesting.

    This was most interesting to me as I have never been to these areas.

    Reply
    • May 31, 2018 at 4:09 am
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      Thank you Adele for taking time to comment. I am so glad this was appreciated. My first trip was an eye opener, to see what is really happening after what I had read and heard in media. Ariel seemed so far away, but Barkan Industrial Park outside of Ariel is a one hour drive from Jerusalem. In New York City and Baltimore-DC area, folks drive longer to go to work each day. In Israel nothing is far, and somehow all is connected.

      Reply
  • May 31, 2018 at 11:35 am
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    Shalom shalom,

    Toda raba for all the good and informative news about Yerushalaim and suroundings. I love Israel as my own country. I want to get to learn Hebrew and be able to read without any subtitles!

    Lehitraot,
    Cláudia Regina.

    Reply
    • May 31, 2018 at 11:39 am
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      Thank you for taking time to write Claudia. שלום Shalom.

      Reply
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