Hebron, South Hebron Hills, Wed 9.1.13, Morning

Translator:  Charles K.

We decided to go on our shift even though snow was expected.

We entered through Meitar which was quiet at this hour (about 11 AM).

We again drove to Umm Faqra to see how they’re dealing with the cold and the very poor living conditions.  We visited Fadel, who welcomed us happily with his entire family, the women and all the children, who didn’t go to school today because of the rain and cold.  We sat with them in their cave by the light of a small, smoky fire on which they prepared tea for us.  His lovely children enjoyed the pictures on Raya’s iPhone, which they passed from one to the other.

We continued toward Hebron; snow began falling, and grew heavier as we reached the entrance to Kiryat Arba.  The guards in the booths barely stuck their noses out to check us.  The snow increased; the sight was wonderfully exciting! 

We stopped at the Cave of the Patriarchs but almost everything was closed, even ‘Abed’s shop; few soldiers and very few people.  A few children threw snowballs.

We stopped briefly at the grocery next to Azzam and understood we won’t meet anyone today, so we started driving out. 

The usual guard in the booth back at the entrance to Kiryat Arba told us we wouldn’t be able to continue because the roads were all blocked.  And, in fact, we soon had difficulty driving without skidding on the snowy road, and only because of our wonderful, skilled driver (who was barely able to keep the car moving, refusing to ease up on the engine) did we reach the exit from Kiryat Arba – but only after waiting with other cars who were also stuck for the snow plow to arrive and clear the road slightly.  Since we were told that all the roads were blocked, we waited at a gas station for them to open and only then were we able to drive back to Meitar without delays.  We praised M., awarding him the title of “Slalom Driving Champion,” and he drove to the garage…