Hebron

All is quiet along Highways 60 and 317; no military vehicles, no flying checkpoints anywhere.

Hebron

Naha”l soldiers have relieved Giv’ati units.

Those youngsters haven’t heard of us and know nothing about our activities here, so the soldiers guarding the beginning of Shuhada Street stop us, suspicious of our driver.  We weren’t able to convince them this has been our regular route for more than ten years, and that this Israeli citizen, despite being a Moslem, is allowed to drive with us on this road.  Again conversations over the walkie-talkie, until finally the order is given:  the driver may not enter Shuhada Street.  He must park and wait in the parking lot at the Cave of the Patriarchs; we may walk on the road.

We asked to speak to the commander but weren’t able to.  We protested to the soldiers and decided not to go without M.  The truth is we’re apprehensive about walking near Beit Hadassah because Anat Cohen and others can, as you know, be very aggressive.

It’s quiet at the Cave of the Patriarchs.  A., from the souvenir shop, says that DCO personnel told him they’re planning to open four shops down the street that had been shut.  He and others asked for the road also to be opened for their cars.  The army avoided giving a clear answer.  He and others trying to make a living there from their shops smile disbelievingly for the umpteenth time: “Nothing will happen, it’s just words, words, words, like always.”

At the Pharmacy checkpoint we ran into an acquaintance active in B’Tselem.  We asked about what happened a few days ago in Tel Rumeida.  He said children threw rocks (settlers’ children); the adults went into the Shaharbati family’s house and caused an uproar.  The army came and wanted to arrest the Palestinian children.  We didn’t understand how it ended.  Apparently things calmed down with difficulty, until next time.  But the man said that since the soldier was killed at Curve 160 the army has been behaving much more harshly.