Bruqin, Haris, Kufr alDik, Tue 15.1.13, Morning

09:30  We left from the Rosh Ha’Ayin train station.

We’d only arrived at the Shomron gate when we saw something unusual – an army jeep on the road and armed soldiers on both sides of the road.

10:00  We reached Hars.  Again we saw a group of armed soldiers, stationed at the entrance to the village.  They’re not blocking the entrance or preventing entry.

This is our first emotional, happy meeting with the group of women learning English after a three-week break during which the mothers were busy because of mid-term school exams.  (Parents are expected to prepare their children for exams.) 

In addition to the English class, there are about twenty women in the club knitting hats and scarves.  They’re paid for the work by an international organization that assists refugees and orphans.  The organization donates the items to children from needy families.

Our circuit:  We left Hars at 10:00.  Armed soldiers are also stationed at the entrance to the Ariel industrial zone, on the road to Brukin.  They’re not stopping cars; traffic flows.  Brukin is quiet.  Few people in the street.

From there to Kafr a-Diq.  Life proceeds there normally with no disturbances.

Again we weren’t able to meet with Hanan, the club’s director.  When we drove back toward the industrial zone the soldiers were gone.   They’d packed up.

11:45  Back to Hars, then to Rosh Ha’Ayin.