Summary
A terrible day, a day of bloodshed in Gaza, a day in which the Palestinians are shocked by the heartrending pictures and descriptions of the massacre in Shajaiya, and we can only mumble words of sorrow and shame. And on the other hand there are amazingly sincere expressions of warmth and sympathy towards us which leaves us overwhelmed.
Before the settlement of Ariel, on the hill, next to the settlement of Aleh Zahav, bulldozers are leveling more and more land for a new settlement, which will create territorial continuity between Ariel and the “Green Line”, which has been erased.
11.45 Za’atara checkpoint/Tapuah Junction
It is not manned. A jeep stands to the right of the checkpoint at the turning to the village of Ya’asuf (and the Tapuach settlement). There are many people waiting at the hitchhikers’ station.
12.10 Ma’ale Efrayim
The checkpoint is empty, and unmanned.
12.30 Hamra checkpoint
At this noon hour, on a day of the Ramadan holiday, the checkpoint is empty. There are no cars, and the soldiers are concealed inside their air-conditioned hut.
Makhul
During the last two weeks I received quite a few telephone calls from friends in the Jordan valley, who are worried about me and my family. Among them, of course, my friend from Makhul , the settlement that was almost totally destroyed by army bulldozers. B. is a communicative and warmhearted man who is religious, and we don’t usually shake hands. Today, when I got out of my car, he greeted me with a fervent hug and kisses, with tears in his eyes. This was something so unexpected, something that never happens, and I – who was completely surprised – just didn’t know how to respond. My feeling was that this sweet-hearted man was simply so happy to see me safe and sound that he couldn’t control himself.
On the other hand, people saw the terrible sights of the slaughter at Shajaya on television: including the bodies of dead children, sights which Israeli television covers up for the sake of the delicate souls of the Israeli people, which is ready to kill Arabs but not to view this. The conversation with many of the Arabs was painful and angry – angry at Israel and Netanyahu, angry at Abu Mazan because he isn’t helping Hamas by starting another Intifada , and angry with the Arab world which allows Israel to strike the Palestinians again and again.
We did not sense anger against us, but rather a wish that we should pass on their message, and also their disappointment and disillusionment of the Israelis. Until now we've been hearing the naïve belief that it’s the Israeli government who acts against the Palestinians, but that the Israeli public – if they had known the truth – wouldn’t support the acts of its government.
Today there is more understanding that the actions of the army are in the name of the Israeli people and with its blessing. They are not just supported by the settlers and the army, but the whole nation stands behind them.
These are the opinions that we heard today in the Jordan valley.
13.30 Tayasir checkpoint
The traffic is very thin, but until the soldiers bother to leave their air-conditioning the inspections are very slow and meticulous, causing long queues and delays in the midday heat of Ramadan. It’s all so pointless!
17.15 t Ma’ale Efrayim and Zatara
The checkpoints are not manned.