Gallery - pictures from Beit Surik, a Palestinian village affected by the Apartheid wall

The start of the wall in 2004 - an ugly scar across beautiful countryside

In November 2005

This picture from the boys school represents the villages surrounded by the Apartheid wall in this area.

More pictures showing the wall and its construction around Beit Surik

January 2007

2005

January 2007 - The fence is complete and regular military patrols now pass by.

A railway planned to connect West Bank settlements with Jerusalem, and complete with a 'security wall', will further eat into Beit Surik land.

Jewish settlements which will be connected to the Jerusalem transport network. There will be no stops at Palestinian towns.

Abu's farm: The family grows mulberry, grapes, peaches, olives, peas, figs, pomegranates, cucumber, spinach, radishes; and keeps sheep, chicken and sheep. From his garden the wall was very plain to see, and Abu told us that a soldier had taken a pot shot at him – for carrying a garden tool.

At least three of the family generations were picking olives while we were there, and some of our delegation helped a bit – admittedly a token gesture.

We were received with traditional Palestinian hospitality

Breakfast

Lunch

Struggles broke out when sewage from the settlements polluted Beit Surik land, and it is hoped that this has now been solved. However, a spring is polluted by settlement sewage.

The sewage pipe - deliberately dumping sewage on Palestinian land.

A deep well built by the Israelis which has drained most of Beit Surik's wells of water.

The remaining source of water.

As the villagers are not allowed to burn refuse because the smoke would go towards the settlements, rubbish dumps gather round the village.

One morning Husein collected us to show where the bulldozers had just been – tearing up olive trees owned by an old couple whose family had lived for generations on that land.

The work had stopped as the bulldozer broke down but blue tags and red markings indicated where the work would carry on. All in the interests of security of course.

Soon this land owned by this couple for generations will be covered by the Wall of imprisonment.

Beit Surik is traditional Palestinian village - women wear beautifully embroidered gowns.

We've been spotted - the sense of fear amongst out Palestinian hosts was palpable.

This ladies husband is in Ramallah military prison and has never seen his son aged 5. He expects to spend another 5 years incarcerated. The family have to pay for food for him in prison, if he is to eat adequately.

A political poster of which their are many. This young man, a Doctor is in prison for "political activities".

His Father is proud of his son's achievements, but what use is his education in prison?

A house is surrounded by the Harasha settlement. As it is now on the wrong side of the wall, the Israelis will probably destroy this houses.

A path is prepared for the wall - note how close it is to the house owned by Arabs.

The women's committees. The gowns worn were magnificent.

The view from the playground - soon the wall will be clearly visible.

Classrooms are divided to create more rooms, and very overcrowded.

The Boy's school is fairly dilapidated.

View from the girls school of the wall being built.

2007 - the blasting and destruction continues

The gate built to provide access to the nearby Jewish town

Last night in Beit Surik - the whole village seems to have turned out.

A poem is recited

The children in front of "the wall" picking olives. The man in a blouson jacket with sunglasses is the Israeli.

The villagers carry away the body of a shot farmer - probably he got too close the the wall.

Our last day - a walk around the town

Check points - some are permanent like this one, others simply pop up in the middle of no-where.

The wall in Jerusalem - it is three times higher than the Berlin wall was

Caught in the act! A caterropillar machine used to build the wall.