Hebron, South Hebron Hills, Tarqumiya, Mon 9.8.10, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
Tarqumiya crossing
9:30
A man with a bandaged broken leg sits on the sidewalk, next to his crutches. He said that someone came to take him to the Barzilai Hospital but that someone from the checkpoint made him go back for an additional inspection because something wasn't in order. The first time he went through, he was detained for 40 minutes and his ride didn't wait, and now he's stuck here. We contacted Zion and Dudi, who are in charge of the checkpoint. They came, tried to find out what happened, and handled the problem appropriately in order to help him get to the hospital. They said that anyone can approach them when there's a problem going through the checkpoint, and they respond and deal with it.
Mizpeh Avihai, which we saw on television being demolished, is rising once again: Again there are two pre-fabs, cars and an orange flag...
Hebron
Very many soldiers throughout Hebron: Giv'ati units reinforce those from the Naha"l, because today is "an exceptional day for Jews" at the Cave of the Patriarchs (the eve of the first of Elul). There are also more police cars than usual. The entrances to the Cave of the Patriarchs are closed; soldiers patrol the streets with drawn weapons.
The policeman at Tel Rumeida stops us and asks us to get away from there today because of the special circumstances ("there'll be 14,000 ultra-orthodox Jews here today"), and he leads us out and insists we leave through the Kiryat Arba gate "because he has to report that we left as quickly as possible." The explanation: Today the entire area of the Cave of the Patriarchs and the Zion route is a closed military area. What is allowed? To walk around, without wearing a badge or identifying symbols that could cause disruptions...He grudgingly agreed to let us made a very brief visit to Bassam, who finally has a little work.