Hebron, South Hebron Hills, Tarqumiya, Mon 4.2.13, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
Today we came via the Tarqumiya checkpoint.
All the laborers have crossed. Many fewer vehicles of all kinds parked here than at the Meitar crossing.
We met an old acquaintance at the grocery at the entrance to Idna on Highway 35. He lost his son, who was shot by our forces a few years ago on his way to harvest olives; he’s joined the organization of bereaved families. He’s older than 70 and isn’t permitted to enter Israel. When he travels to Jordan he’s detained for three hours in each direction and doesn’t understand why. A younger relative of his who attends the meetings told us they asked members of the group for help. I gave him Sylvia’s phone number; according to her, someone his age is entitled to appeal and it’s worth doing.
Two red signs have been erected on the road at the turn to Idna, reading: This road leads to
a Palestinian locality. Entry by Israeli citizens is dangerous. That’s different from the version referring to the prohibition against entering Area A, which is illegal. Such signs have recently been erected all along Highway 60, at all the entrances to Palestinian localities. What’s the significance of the different wordings of the red signs? Who knows.
Another red sign very politely explaining the behavior of the soldiers at the checkpoint has been erected next to the regular sign at the turn to the humanitarian checkpoint on Highway 35 at one of the roads to Hebron.
Hebron
The “Shimshon” brigade is stationed there now. Israeli flags fly so very festively all along Derech HaBanim. We weren’t able to discover the reason for the party.
Border Police soldiers at the checkpoint on the road next to the Cave of the Patriarchs plaza. A boy about ten years old carrying an electric saw passes by, going toward the Fayha girls school. One of the soldiers wants to detain him. The boy keeps walking, the soldier runs to stop him. “Why?,” we ask? The soldier radios for instructions. A second soldier explains they’re only checking something. Over the radio they’re told to let the boy go, but to keep an eye on him.
Thus it ends, this time. We have the impression our presence influenced the soldiers’ behavior.
A little boy on his way to help someone at work meets, as a daily routine, soldiers who can harm him for the sake of Israel’s security. The chronicle of occupation.