“Very difficult”
During the nearly two years they have been living in Iqrit, the youth have overcome a number of challenges.
The Israel Land Authority has forbidden them from building or fixing any structures other than the historic church and an outhouse. Surviving two winters in tents and inside the church, Ashkar said, was “very difficult.”
“The first winter was especially hard for us,” he explained. “The church’s infrastructure was very unstable and not good for the cold weather. At one point, rain water flooded the church and was knee-high.”
“For this winter,” Ashkar said, “we had to work since mid-summer to prepare everything. We had to fix the church up, to gather and chop enough wood for the winter, and make sure all is ready.”
Israeli authorities also demolished any structures that the campers built, including a garden and a small soccer stadium, and repeatedly uprooted trees that were planted. “They come on both official and unofficial visits,” Ashkar said.
“Sometimes the police or someone from the land authority will show up. But other times something like a guy who looks like a hiker taking pictures of [the area] will come and then authorities show up later.”
