חארס

09:00  We left from the Rosh Ha’ayin train station.

09:30  Hars.  The Hebrew class begins.  Twelve women are present, two more join later, and also a girl about ten years old who participates actively.  One of the women invites us to share her happiness at the marriage of her two sons; she distributes candy.  After homework is checked today’s lesson begins – the family.  Using their new vocabulary the women introduce themselves, their husbands, sons and daughters, and the grandmothers among them also number their grandchildren.  And all in Hebrew.  All participate, impatiently awaiting their turn.  The age range in the group makes the class more interesting and the exercises more varied.  We’ll continue the topic next week.

The circuit:  No roadblock at Izbet Tabib; cars go through unimpeded, as they do at the entrance to Azzun.

10:00  Imatin.  The mayor, whom we know from previous visits, is in Qalqilya.  The secretary tells us the signs on Highway 55, “Highway of death,” aren’t new, nor has anything changed since concern has grown about the road’s dangers.

10:30  Funduq.  We meet with the municipal council secretary, the impressive older man we’d met in the past.  He tells us that the Palestinian and Israeli DCO officers came to his office a while ago and asked him to suggest a way of reducing the danger on the road.  Since he’s a trained engineer he prepared a detailed plan and gave it to the Palestinian DCO.  He’s called him to find out when it will be implemented but the DCO doesn’t return his calls.

It’s important to note, in this connection, that Chana Barg received a letter from the Civil Administration confirming that the plan had been received and transmitted to the Staff Officer for Transportation for evaluation and approval.  Have these two groups of officials, Israeli and Palestinian, who could jointly solve the problem, fallen asleep at the switch?

Another thing:  As you recall, last week two workers at the Funduq bakery were arrested.  Their “sin” was that they’d seen settlers from Havvat Gil’ad who’d sneaked into the village at night and damaged cars.  Instead of the settlers being arrested, the two workers were.  They were released on NIS 4000 bail each.  Their parents, who live from hand to mouth, had to pay that huge sum; it’s doubtful they’ll ever get it back.

11:00  Back to Hars, and then to Tel Aviv.