The Essences of Battir

The Essences of Battir

It all started out on a beautiful sunny day in Battir, when we went walking in it’s valley of green field and listening to the guide who explained about the village history, the area, the wall, wild plants, trees, and the springs. And we got to learn about its history and it’s most important subjects. To go into subject I would first like to give a background about Battir. Battir is identified with the ancient Jewish town of Betar (Hebrew), which was a stronghold during the 2nd century Bar Kokhba revolt against Roman rule in Judea. Located on a steep hill to the west of Battir, the remains of the ancient town are known today as Khirbet al-Yahud, Arabic for "ruin of the Jews." Battir is located five kilometers to the southeast Bethlehem and to the northeast Jerusalem. It has a population of almost 5,000 inhabitants. Battir sits just above the main railroad from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Battir is famous in its green fields, springs, wild plants and its beautiful nature. In modern times, Battir's development was linked to its location alongside the railroad to Jerusalem, which provided both access to the city's opportunities as well as direct income from passengers who would disembark when the locomotives stopped to take on water. After the 1948 war , the armistice line fell along the railroad, and Battir ended up just meters to the east of Jordan's border with Israel. After the 1967 War , Battir passed to Israeli control along with the rest of the West Bank , though after the 1995 signing of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, it has been administered by the Palestinian Authority . There is some concern that the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier might negatively impact the environment in the area, especially due to Battir's proximity to the Green line.

First thing we were walking down from Beit Jala to the valley of battir passing by the road number 60. Moving slowly into its beautiful valley we were guided by a couple of guests who explained to us what the nature of Battir really is and not what we just see.

The springs in Battir are all over the place were ever you go there is a natural spring coming out of rocks or mountain cracks. The water is fresh and cold. One thing I noticed is that were ever there is a spring of water, around it and were the water falls is black.
For the people of Battir, the biggest problem is access to water. “We have springs. Unfortunately, because of the water restrictions, we are not allowed to use them all”, explained Itadal , a member of the village council. Indeed, the inhabitants have access to running water only five hours a day, most of the time in the evening, which makes the way they live and cultivate much harder.

It was nice to walk around in a country that is so close to you but at the same time so far. Because of separation wall Battir Is having a problem now days. The village straddles B and C areas, falling under administrative and military Israeli control. It is surrounded on one side by the separation wall and on the other by two settlements, Bitay Illet and Walja. If the settlements continue to expand at their current rate, they will soon merge, further isolating Battir. The village is one of fourteen such ‘blockations’ in the West Bank. Available land has been steadily decreasing since 1949, when the Israeli Government began building a railroad through the village. The wall has separated farmers from their fields as well. Some of the water channels that conducted to the other side have already been stilted following the renovation of the railroad tracks. The wall will be built abutting on the houses, the boys’ school and the water spring, and 40% of the olive groves and 95% of the vegetable fields and fruit orchards will remain outside, like some of the houses that have been built on the Israeli side of the Green Line. In contrast to the arrangement that has prevailed since 1949, the access of inhabitants to their lands will be limited to one underground passage and for pedestrians only, so that tractors or other motorized vehicles for the gathering of the harvest may not be used. Flocks of sheep and goats will no longer be able to move about freely and children will not be able to use the green area for their games. The view to the Jerusalem mountains will be obstructed by heavy concrete blocs.

Battir is known also for it’s big amount of olive trees, it’s land is so rich with good soil an advantage which helps them grow plants and even more trees. I would like to say that I am proud of myself and my fellow classmates as well as the teachers and helpers with us, that we went to an empty spot half way through the mountain and planted some new olive tress as well. Cleaned around it and made sure it had five to eight meters away from the next tree. In order for it to grow freely. We also covered them with plastic so that no animal can destroy it in any way. We did it for fun and also so that the Israelis wont take the land if it's in use. Hopefully we helped!

Some of our guiders were from battir it’s self, so they took us to the main lounge you can say and gave us a slight breakfast. In this lounge on the first floor was a claw factory, they made some beautiful statues and other shapes and just some really nice work. The owner was kind enough to give us small gifts to remember that day. Its was thoughtful of him to do such thing even though we were a big group of people.

While we were going to the mountain to plant some trees, we passed by the biggest water spring in battir. which ends up in a swimming pool. It was a magnificent feeling looking at it and how it made its way through the mountain crack into the pool. All I can say then was Subhan Allah wow! Such a pretty thing. There was some cute little boys swimming uh it was so hot I just wanted to jump in with them. Now that would have made my day much better. Going down we found a almond tree, is it me or anything stolen tastes much better. of course we had to steel from it, that’s just a must upon us ha-ha am joking. Speaking about steeling we also went further down and found a lemon tree, like you know for sure we had to taste that as well.

We got to the bottom if the hill were there we saw the railroad of the train that connects Jerusalem to Israel, when we got closer to it the guide with us old us that we are not allowed to get on it. That its Israeli property and who ever gets on it gets in jail. Also that battir people have there own citizenship which says Battir only. And only them are allowed to go around town and go on the railroad. that’s kind of sad because look at the very simple thing going on a railroad in my own country I need permission from someone out of this country. Funny right yes I know but as I said sad as well.

We found a horse on the way to our way to the other mountain and a friend of mine Sondos wanted to ride on it. I told her no its not safe but she said I’ll try. As she got close to it everything was still fine, once she came to ride it she kind of tickled him by his thigh and he started moving and out of no where he hit her. Maskina Sondos she really got hurt and it bruised. When she came down I was like a hate to tell you so but I told you so ha-ha.

Finally reaching the hill we planted are tress and was heading home. Now that’s was the best part because everyone was so exhausted of all the walking and climbing. They took us to the main road there the got us cabs and everyone went home. But for me and my friends we still had to go to Bethlehem and take a cab from there. Are cab was late so we decided to go around a little. We went to the main church there and had a great tour inside took some pictures and left. We then went to the most famous bakery in Bethlehem and bought some snacks for the way back home. Going home I got a disturbing phone call from a friend back in Ramallah informing me that a young man has died in Ramallah and that he is Deema’s dad (R.I.P). A friend that was my classmate for 9 years. It took my a while to get out of my shock because he was such a good man and everyone loved him. All I was thinking about is that we have to go see her as soon as possible. At the end of the day getting bad news covers everything I did that day, going home was all I wanted then.

In conclusion it was nice learning about things I have never new about my country, and I hope to get to see it again some day. It was really an a beautiful town to go to. Thanks to my professor Alesandro and to everyone who made this possible for me.

Sincerely Rawan Obeid.