Because of the harsh reality in the Valley, we decided to go out every week—and so we went out today.
The Valley is green and overcast, with light, scattered drizzle.
The equipment (clothes, toys) in the car will be distributed to the families we meet—one in Ein al-Hilweh, from there we will continue to Hammam al-Malih to accompany a family this morning.

The settlers are already present in the area north of Tayasir Road. Hammam lies to the south. This morning they are building a fence.
About nine settlers, a tractor, and a vehicle with trailers and construction equipment. They are coming from two new outposts (one close to Hammam across the road, and the other near the Tayasir checkpoint).

Within a few hours the area is already fenced and from now on will be used as an overnight enclosure for the settlers’ cows. During the day the cows will roam throughout the area, cross the road, and reach Hammam and Mita. We will travel from Mita to Hammam to show a presence.

Military jeeps drive along the road throughout the day—with or without a connection to events; it’s unclear. Settlers and cows come from the outposts into the area and move between Hammam, Mita, and the fence-building site.
All of this happens in broad daylight. All intentions are openly displayed: “So you know—this is ours, and this is how it’s going to be.”

The local residents do not go out to graze at all and are completely focused on this event. In Hammam only the parents and one son are present; the others prefer not to be there.

It is important to note that the entire area belongs to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate according to records from the Mandate period (and even earlier). The Palestinians have no connection with them and no land registry (tabu), so in practice they have no way to fight this encroachment into their area.

During the day, as part of our protective presence in Hammam al-Malih, we build connections with the adults and the very young, frightened children. We play, draw, and are given an astonishingly tasty meal. They live in a tent; to the side, neatly folded sleeping blankets, and a fire burning from twigs that the head of the household feeds to keep warm. That’s it. Another tent serves as a kitchen and a place for making cheese. In the background there is a brick house they began to build, and the settlers made sure to stop the construction. A settler known to all of us—Shai Igner or something like that—monitors the construction and sabotages it with the help of the army.

We saw the settlers’ herd that we encountered in the morning in Mita. The two settlers who were with it returned to the new fence area after we arrived there; when we went down to Hammam, they went back to Mita.

In short, we played ping-pong with them throughout the day. In the afternoon we met the settler and the cows on the road; when he saw us, he understood, hid his face, and took the cows toward the fence.

This whole, perhaps boring, story simply illustrates how impossible the situation is. There is not enough protection for the shepherds, and the day is not far off when they will break—although they have nowhere to go.