...route...
The Zone is a very complicated system of traps, and they’re all deadly...Rules that apply outside The Zone are no longer valid inside...I don’t know what’s going on here in the absence of people, but the moment someone shows up, everything comes into motion. Old traps disappear and new ones emerge. Safe spots become impassable. Now your path is easy, now it’s hopelessly involved. That’s the Zone. I think it lets those pass who… have lost all hope. Not good or bad, but wretched people. But even the most wretched will die if they don’t know how to behave. -Stalker (1979) A.Tarkovsky
Jewish Mom and her daughter in Jewish settlement, Sde Boaz, above the route 60 southern from Jerusalem.
Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, unto a land that I will show you
“...I started the photographic project of Route 60 some years ago with a quest of finding the root cause of this conflict. However, the project became my search for personal and national redemption amidst the impossible realities of violence, beauty and paths not taken...” Born in the “eternal” Soviet Empire, Edward left it in 1992 following its demise. He’s trying to find loosen valuables and feeling of home in his Jewish “motherland,” he migrated. However, wandering on route 60 he discovered that he has left one national Utopia only to join another fragile utopia, where fantasies, pains, and hopes mingle to create a nostalgia that lays heavy upon the present and shrouds the future in darkness. “ Working as an Israeli based photojournalist, I covered many spot events of the conflict. Yet it has not provided any answers. I went out on route 60 to find answers from people on both sides at firsthand Not interested in news style coverage, I avoided taking images of single events, taken out of their time line. My goal was to take a step above and penetrate the philosophical dimension of conflict’s reality.” Kaprov’s camera piles the layers of ancient history, the Palestinian Liberation idea, Jewish Faith and idea of Zionism into single images.
Antique near Deir Ballut & Paduel
Palestinian Falah(farmer) climbing out from the well in the Khan Lubban. On antique part of route 60 near Nablus.
Palestinian christian farm in Beithlehem area. near Neve Daniel settlement
Jewish settler on Shilo Hill antique. It was the capital of Israel before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem.
Tomb of Sheikh Abed al-Slam and part of separate wall that divide Shuafat refugee camp from north part of Jerusalem. Near Hizme Block Post from Jerusalem to Ramallah.
Old Part of route 60 that runs several meters above the new one. Near Neve Daniel settlement. Gush Azion area. southern from Jerusalem.
Palestinian Falah(farmer) on route near Deir Ballut.
Palestinian herdsman on field near palestinian village Deir Ballut.
Illusion of connectedness “route 60� is the main artery of West Bank. Following an ancient path along the hilly region’s watershed, countless of nomads, pilgrims, merchants, refugees and armies have traveled upon it throughout history. Yet, while route 60 connects past and present, it also hides historical truths and present realities. Creating an illusion of connectedness, progress and mobility, the road separates worlds that exist side by side. When these worlds do meet, it often occurs under tragic circumstances
Old Part of route 60 that runs several meters above the new one. Near Neve Daniel settlement. Gush Azion area. southern from Jerusalem.
Near Hizme Block Post from Jerusalem to Ramallah. View to Shuafat refugee camp and separate wall through the rusty signboard that towering on the hill above.
View from Samaria Hill (near Paduel settlement) through Palestinian village Deir Ballut West to Tel Aviv. The sign on right down affirm about military presence (the sign says “firing line 100 meter ahead for no more that two marksmen�).
View from West to East to Herodiun mount trough Jewish settlement southern from Jerusalem.
Blocked route that lead to Palestinian farm. Near Neve Daniel settlement. Gush Azion area. southern from Jerusalem.
Palestinian with his ships at the blocked route that cut of from main road. Near Beith El settlement. North of Jerusalem .
View from jewish settlement on the route 60, through lottery kiosk that used like a watchhouse
Palestinian old woman at the home entrance. The Jewish graffiti on it says “Seculars against the Arabs�
“...contiguously with Arabs, there are, along all the perimeter tied a dogs... they are specially trained and keeping all under control...� Watchdog at Jewish settlement Alon More on the background of Nablus.
Settler couple on Kabir Mount near Jewish settlement Alon More on the background of Nablus.
Terra Nullius This historical path runs through the hills of ‘Judea and Samaria’ area, from the ancient times of Abraham. Mentioned in the Old Testament it is called “The Way of the Patriarchs” and Biblical Patriarchs had walked it. It follows along the central watersheds from Beer-Sheba to Nazareth. Most of the territory it crosses is what is considered the Israeli-occupied territories of today. On both sides the path hosts Jewish settlements and Arab Palestinian villages; its steep curves witnessing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the land. Biblical Judea and Samaria, known today to the world by the term ‘West Bank’. This territory (West of Jordan River) was given for the Palestinian state formation, by United Nations Partition Plan. During 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it was occupied by Transjordan (Jordan after occupation) with following annexation. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, West Bank was seized by Israel from Jordan. Although, the territory was not annexed by Israel. In 1988 Jordan officially relinquish its claim to the area. Till today it’s has remaining ‘terra nullius’ under Israeli military control .
International observer in Hebron, in Jewish part, against the graffiti wall that siparate Hebron to H1(Israeli control) and H2 ( Palestinian control)zones .
Star of David setted from stomes. View from Mizpe Eshtamoa settlement. The inhabitant of this settlement was pulled out from Homesh settlement during Disengagement in 2005
View to Jerusalem through palestinian slum near Ramallah
Monument of Israel with the holes that symbolize bullet holes and names of killed in terror attacks. At the entrance to Ariel - one of the bigest settlements
Palestinian Popular Resistance Conference. Beit Umar, arab town in Hebron Governorate.
Grafity wall with Palestinian flag and map of the country colored with palestinian flag in palestinian village Batir. South-West Jerusalem
Jewish settler in abandoned huge Yeshiva building at Shiloh settlement
Palestinian Kid carry drinking water. South of Hebron
Arab civilians and Israeli soldiers on Route 60 at the exit from Palestinian village Beit Umar .
Palstinian kids against the graffiti wall that siparate Hebron to H1(Israeli control) and H2 ( Palestinian control)zones .
Hebron. Israeli Soldier check post that divides Hebron city to H1(Israeli control) and H2 ( Palestinian control)zones .
partition of UN humanitarian aid at Batir village. South-West Jerusalem
partition of UN humanitarian aid at Batir village. South-West Jerusalem
Palestinian and International observer in Hebron H1 area, in Jewish control part,
International observers and Israeli Military jeep in Hebron, in Jewish part, against the graffiti wall that siparate Hebron to H1(Israeli control) and H2 ( Palestinian control)zones .
The ABC of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict This project stresses the absurd consequences of “Peace Process”, which has led to a deadlock for twenty years. As a result of Oslo interim accords, the Palestinian Authority was formed and Israel withdrew its military rule from some parts of the West Bank. The area was divided into three administrative sections: Area A, B and C The largest one (60%), was defined as C – under full Israeli control. The areas A and B are fragmentally scattered and often isolated from each other by C. On the map the Palestinian Authority looks like Quilt of “A,B,C patches”. In the field you never know where you are. The complications following the Al-Aksa Intifada (started in September 2000) completed its spin. Route 60 became a central scene of violence. The Israeli Army has fortified various sections with anti-sniper walls and had established checkpoints along the route. The construction of separation wall divided West Bank from Israeli Territory. Detours around Palestinian villages were built by Israel to reduce fractions and violence. This caused even more fracture in the mobility between various parts of the road.
Israeli soldiers during Friday weekly protest at Qalandia Check point. The Check point on old part of route 60, that connected Jerusalem and Ramallah
Yasser Arafat’s Funeral, November 2004
Palestinian youths hurl stones towards an Israeli army in the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah on September 23, 2011.
Foreign journalist cover his face after teargas attack . Qalandia check point at the entrance to Ramallah. During fryday protest.
Palestinians orator at scene on the central square in Ramallah. During the crowd watch their President Mahmoud Abbas on TV as he delivers his speech at the United Nations during the General Assembly on September 23, 2011 in Ramallah,
Palestinians celebrate President Mahmoud Abbas speech at the United Nations 2012
Israeli Army block-post at the exit from Beit Ummar, arab town in Hebron Governorate.
Foreign journalist at Kalandia check point at the entrance to Ramallah. During fryday protest.
Palestinians throwing stones through tear gas clouds During weekly Friday protest against separate wall building Naalin village. Palestine Authority
Palestinian kid throwing stones. During weekly Friday protest against separate wall building. Naalin village. Palestine Authority
Israeli soldiers pointing gun to Palestinian stone throwers during Friday weekly protest at Qalandia Check point. The Check point on old part of route 60, that connected Jerusalem and Ramallah
Palestinian at bus station, cover his face from tear gas. During Friday weekly protest at Qalandia Check point
Israeli soldiers observe Palestinian protesters like in spectacle. During Friday weekly protest at Qalandia Check point
Scores of media on a few Palestinian youths hurl stones towards an Israeli army in the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah
Palestinian youths hurl stones towards an Israeli army in the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah
Unussual view of snow on Hollyland. People stoped on the sideways to play with snow with now deference for jewish or arab.
Forgetting the future. Wandering back and forth on “The Way of the Patriarchs”, I talked to Jews and Palestinians. I’ve learned about their daily routine and listened to their Ideals. The visual facts along the road concluded the fiction of both Ideas - Palestinian Authority and Israel. Along the visible and invisible sideways of the road, I tried to understand the role of the past in the present and the sad absurdity of forgetting the future. The mission of this project became to capture the Absurd, to counter the “bubble” realities in which my heroes live. The Utopia worlds on both sides, authors their own definitions and meanings for the land they inhabit. My camera piles the layers of ancient history, the Palestinian Liberation idea, Jewish Faith and idea of Zionism into single images. Locked in the world of their truth, my protagonists reflect nostalgia of high Ideas, which deny real circumstances. The Idea of possible compromise exists in the realm of Logic but dwells as Utopia in the uncompromising reality. As I wonder through route 60 metaphor, witnessing the jealous love to this Holly Land. I absorb that any solution would require painful re-rendering of “utopia” on both sides.
Gush Azion interjection. South from Jerusalem. Unussual view of snow on Hollyland.
Palestinian friends meeting at the entrance to Beit Ummar
Palestinian house that it’s owners was moved out, because of “security reasons”. Right above the route 60 and Israeli setlement Neve Danielz
View from Samaria Hill (near Paduel settlement) through Palestinian village Deir Ballut West to Tel Aviv. The sign on right down affirm about military presence (the sign says “firing line 100 meter ahead for no more that two marksmen�).
Palestinians celebrate as they watch their President Mahmoud Abbas on TV as he delivers his speech at the United Nations during the General Assembly on September 23, 2011 in Ramallah, West Bank.
Sultan. Artist and owner of souvenir fabric in palestinian village Batir. South-West Jerusalem
souvenir fabric in palestinian village Batir. South-West Jerusalem
Palestinian passing through wicket gate in separate border to get his house that stuck surrounded by separate wall between Elkana settlement and Mas’ha Palestinian village
Palestinian Falah(farmer) on route near Sde Boaz
Unfinished mosqe constrsction at Beit Zacharia. Gush Azion
View from destroed palestinian house Near Liban Sharkie
Palestinian Falah - Fermer
View on Jewish settlement Eli near Nablus.
Separate wall on west ends of Bethlehem. Cuts from access to route 60
Jewish near northern block post leading out from Jerusalem to Ramallah.
Separate Wall near Hizme Block Post northern block post leading out from Jerusalem to Ramallah.
Palestinian worker at stone manufactory on route 60 near Bayt Umar. Hebron area
Jewish woman, settler in front of her Mobile home at the Esh Kodesh settlement. Mount above Shilo valley. The way from Jerusalem to Nablus
“Gross Square�. Hebron. H1 Part that under israeli control
Armed bus station for jewish settlers near Ariel in the Nublus direction
Against Itamar settlement. Near Nablus.
Empty sign directed to Ramallah West Entrance. Crossroads with route 45
Palestinian mechanics at their garage
Jewish woman, settler in front of her Mobile home at the Esh Kodesh settlement. Mount above Shilo valley. The way from Jerusalem to Nablus
Israeli Arabs working on Separate fence sorrounding Ashalim settlement. The Jewish enclave in Paestinian Authirity. Near palestinian village Ramadin.
Separate fence sorrounding Ashalim settlement. The Jewish enclave in Paestinian Authirity. Near palestinian village Rama-
Separate fence between Ashalim jewish settlement and palestinian village Ramadin.
Israeli Arabs working on Separate fence sorrounding Ashalim settlement. The Jewish enclave in Paestinian Authirity. Near palestinian village Ramadin.
Separate fence between Ashalim jewish settlement and palestinian village Ramadin.
Separate fence between Ashalim jewish settlement and palestinian village Ramadin.
Israeli soldier, and civilians on the road side, against the wall separate from BeithLehem.
Gush Azion interjection. South from Jerusalem. Unussual view of snow on Hollyland.
Palestinian old woman hiking on old part of route 60
Palestinian donkey rider on the backround of separate wall. Near Beitlehem
Ein-a-Dalba Spring serving palestinian for water needs. South of Hebron
Palestinian herdsman on field near Barkan indusrial zone, located near Ariel, one of bigest jewish settlements on the territories
Palestinian Kid carry drinking water. South of Hebron
Bus station for jewish settlers near Maale Levona seettlement
Unussual view of snow on Hollyland. People stoped on the sideways to play with snow with now deference for jewish or arab.
“Vengeance “
Sign on nowhere near Gvaot Olam settlement
Palestinians walking above the route 60 from Jerusalem to Nablus. In front of Palestinian Village Mukhamas in the Horizon.