Israel Matzav

Haredim in Beitar Ilit shopping in 'Palestinian' Husan

Had this story not come with a video, I probably would have dismissed it entirely. But we have a close relative in Beitar Illit, and I plan to make sure that he is not among those who shops in Husan.

A Shabbat clock is one of the hottest-selling items in Mustafa Sabateen’s hardware store in the West Bank Palestinian village of Husan. This is true even though Jews don’t live there and none of Husan’s residents needs or buys one.

“This is one of our most important items,” Sabateen said as he displayed one of the timing devices that can be set to turn appliances on or off. It showed an NIS 85 price tag, but in the neighboring haredi (ultra-Orthodox) settlement of Betar Illit the same clock sells for NIS 139.

Jewish bargain hunters cross the two-lane highway that divides the two communities on a daily basis.

As one approaches this corner of Gush Etzion from Jerusalem, signs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as signs of the differences between the Jewish and Muslim communities, are clearly in sight.

To the left, one can see a Hebrew sign for Betar Illit, along with the large apartment buildings that belong to the haredi city of more than 43,000, which is the second- largest West Bank settlement.

To the right, a mosque dots the skyline with its minaret. A large wire fence lines a portion of the road on the Husan side to protect against rock-throwing. In front of the Palestinian village of 7,000 is a large red sign in three languages that states, “Entry by Israeli citizens is dangerous.”

But evidence that the economy trumps the conflict here is evident, even from the road, where right under the sign on Thursday, a Palestinian had set up a van from whose rear doors he sold cartons of 30 eggs for NIS 20 – NIS 10 cheaper than in Betar Illit.

And although an army jeep was parked across the road, cars with Israeli licenses streamed into the village.

When I was studying in yeshiva in the area in the late '70's and early '80's, drivers would routinely stop at shops in Bethlehem, which was considered safe back then. That all came to an end in 1988. (In fact, we were warned as early as the spring of 1980 to stay out of Arab villages, and not to leave our town without weapons). 

It should be obvious to any Israeli why prices in Husan are cheaper than across the road in Beitar Ilit. Start with the fact that the 'Palestinians' don't have to collect 18% VAT on every item they sell.... But come on. Is it really worth risking your life to save a few shekels?

Labels: Beitar Ilit, Judea and Samaria

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:38 PM