Hebron, South Hebron Hills, Thu 27.6.13, Morning

Translator:  Charles K.

Southern Hebron Hills

Entering through the Meitar checkpoint has become routine, despite the fact it lengthens our trip.

Written on the concrete block opposite the entrance to Beit Haggai:  “Beni Akiva – Cahana was right,” and a drawing of the Bnai Akiva logo, that same good old Zionist youth movement we once knew.

A new, impressive neighborhood under construction at Carmel.

Sussiya is also developing – tractors at work on the expansion.

Hebron

We peeked at the Beit Hameriva area.  It’s quiet; only an army jeep parked there.  There’s a good view from here of the tractors and crane working on the new road from Kiryat Arba to the Cave of the Patriarchs, the one going through land belonging to local residents.

Schools are out in Hebron and groups of children walk around dressed similarly – Abed’s son says they’re in summer camp.

At Abed’s shop we meet a group of women from abroad, members of an organization supporting Palestine.  They want to talk, to know why we’re here, what we do, what our goals are, etc.  The group includes women from England, Dubai and Kuwait; they’ve been traveling in the occupied territories for two weeks.

Abed’s son says that last night settlers entered one of the nearby buildings, but he doesn’t know more than that.  A border police soldier doesn’t know anything about it either.

Azzam had an operation on his leg and has been laid up at home for a few days.  We did a good deed, visited the sick, sat with him at home, were given food and drink and enjoyed his cute children, who want to go to the beach again.