army firing zone is the settlers play ground

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Observers: 
Rita Mendes Flohr (reporting), Guy Hircefeld (driving) Arik Asherman (driving) and two activists from Operation Dove.
Sep-5-2018
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Morning
Jordan Valley: Peace activists watching army jeep approach
Jordan Valley: Peace activists watching army jeep approach
Photo: 
Rita Mendes Flohr
Ground being prepared for construction below settler-colony Kochav HaShahar
Ground being prepared for construction below settler-colony Kochav HaShahar
Photo: 
Rita Mendes Flohr
Palestinian herders' sheep grazing peacefully in the early morning
Palestinian herders' sheep grazing peacefully in the early morning
Photo: 
Rita Mendes Flohr

Sheep grazing peacefully in Rashash, off the Alon Road  in an area that is an army firing zone. Before a new outpost was established - right next to an army base up on a hill (where do the settlers get their water and electricity?), the Palestinian shepherds were allowed to graze their sheep in the firing zone, and only when army exercises were held, not more than one week a year, would the herders be told to keep away. Now, with the settler-colonist outpost there, the settlers herd their own sheep in the firing zone undisturbed and the army has begun to keep the Palestinian shepherds away. Without our accompaniment, the Palestinians are afraid to go far from their compound, fearing harassment by the settlers.

This morning we noticed the settler sheep at a distance, clearly in the firing zone. Then a settler-colonist’s all-terrain-vehicle showed up on a hill, clearly looking at us - and about half an hour later, an army jeep appeared. We are certain it was the settler-colonists who alerted the army.
The soldiers were rather polite this time, and told us it is a firing zone and we have to tell the Palestinians to get off - which they did. The soldiers suggested they would also stop the settler-colonists from grazing in the firing zone - but the Palestinian herders do not believe this will happen.

 

On the way back to Jerusalem, we checked out a plot below Kochav HaShahar where the ground was being newly prepared - possibly for construction. Whether this is privately-owned land is a matter now being checked.