Omar Hajhajleh and Al Walaja: About as Nutty as It Gets

Israel deperately desires Omar's home, the only portion of Al Walaja on the Israeli side of the fence, to continue its relentless confiscation of Palestinian land and the expansion of one of its largest settlements, Har Gilo near Bethlehem. They've surrounded his home—the family's original home is long gone—with a wire fence, and constructed an access tunnel blocked by a huge metal gate. Omar can use an electronic key to open the gate so his family has carefully controlled access to a slightly wider world—and what remains of the original village.

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Palestine-Al Walaja-Omar Hajhajleh-_DSC2260
Omar had installed a buzzer visitors (only those permitted by Israel) could use to signal their presence. Israel ripped it off the wall and punished Omar with 8 days of house arrest—meaning no key.

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