Background
Aboud is a Palestinian village in the West Bank, located 15 miles northwest of Ramallah and two and a half miles from the Green Line (1949 Armistice Line). Aboud has a population of 2,500 residents, which includes 361 families. Residents of Aboud are both Christians (Catholic, Orthodox, and Church of God) and Muslims. Christians comprise 52% of the village.
In Aboud, there are four schools and three kindergartens. The village has a Catholic Boy Scout group, comprised of more than 200 members. Every family in Aboud owns land with olive trees. Families invest significant capital in olive trees and produce olive oil for personal use and commercial sale.
Separation Barriers in Aboud
In 2005, the Israeli government completed construction of the Separation Barrier along the Green Line near Aboud. This Separation Barrier prevents Palestinians from entering Israel from the Aboud region. However, in November 2005 the Israeli government began construction on yet another Separation Barrier near Aboud. This internal Separation Barrier is being built east of the Green Line, closer to Aboud. The internal Separation Barrier will adjoin the nearby Israeli settlements of Beit Arye (1/2 mile from the nearest home of Aboud) and Ofarim (1 mile from the nearest home of Aboud) to the Ariel settlement block. The Israeli government considers this internal Separation Barrier a part of the general project of the Barrier in the West Bank and claims the Separation Barrier is based on military reason and special security steps to prevent terrorist operations.
Click below to download the report (PDF):
“Aboud and the Internal Separation Wall”
