Visiting Palestinian families in the Palestinian Jordan Valley

Visiting Palestinian families in the Palestinian Jordan Valley

Military vehicles are seen at various junctions along the Allon Road. At Hamra the checkpoint is active. Cars descending towards the Jordan Valley are inspected. At Hemdat (settler-colony) junction we see many military vehicles, and we have no idea whether this is a special forces occasion or preparation for some military action. Flags wave in the air.

Whoever does not receive the real/occupation information could easily believe this is the calmest area on earth. While tents are being demolished at Ras Al Ahmar, and a day earlier five tractors were confiscated on their way to plow. People are afraid to plow their land. They are helpless vis a vis the Israeli authorities. A tractor was confiscated three months ago and its owner can still not contact them and penetrate the bureaucratic wall. People on both sides – Palestinian and Israeli – mistrust the system.

Fortunately, some of the fields have already been sowed.