Translator:  Charles K.

The earth is damp from the first rain.  Rain clouds rise like mushrooms above the hills of Samaria.  The air is clear.  We decided to celebrate by meeting our friends from the Huwwara checkpoint – the family of the coffee seller at the Huwwara checkpoint and that of Ahmad, the lad from Burin.

There were no delays at the checkpoints. 
A new vehicle checkpoint is being built at Huwwara (???!!!).

On the way from Zeita, which is blocked as usual:  We notice the beginning of the olive harvest. 
Farmers spread tarpaulins under the olive trees.

12:45  Za’tara –
No delays, vehicles aren’t inspected. 
Sukkot posters: “Fight the construction freeze – Build sukkahs for eternity.”

13:00  Huwwara. 
Very heavy traffic of cars and commerce.

We wait at the “Fisaria” falafel stand for the father of Mu’atsem, Muntasir and Munzir – the coffee sellers who’ve touched our hearts.  Today we brought them clothing and a few books.The father arrives, brings over his two sons, who are walking back from school.  Everyone in Maki’s car is invited to their home for coffee/tea/food.  Muntasir makes coffee and herbal tea for us on the porch overlooking Awarta’s hills.There are potted flowers and herbs on the porch.  Mu’atsem wants particularly to hear about Yehudit L., and when she’ll come.  The two boys are proud of their grades in school.  The elimination of the checkpoint has been good for them.  They appear clean and spiffy in their school uniforms.  Their experiences at the checkpoint – the blows from the Border Police, the detentions, the continual exposure to violence, the filth all around – are behind them (we hope).  It’s now time for childhood and they look good.  They tell us about their day at camp during the summer and ask when they’ll be able to return.  Mother isn’t home yet.  “She’ll return from Jenin next week.” We refuse to eat.Ahmad, the sweetheart, joins us on the porch.  He sits quietly, dreamily.  He went back to school after having dropped out for a year because the family decided to send him to sell candies and bottled water at the checkpoint.  Everyone is proud that he went back to school.  We go to his house.Ahmad shows us the way up to Burin.  Asks about the two Judith L., Judith A., Daphna, and about Rachel, who organized the day camp…Burin sits on the hillside, and the settlement of Bracha is located above the village, which has been there for a long time.  The settlement of Yitzhar is visible across the way.Sam’ar, his mother, and his sister Mar’ah (remember, from the day camp?) welcome us lovingly, with kisses.  The view from the porch, the crisp air, the earth moist with rain, the house with its vine and fig tree, a small donkey lying in the shade – intoxicating.  Sam’ar was born here, as was her mother, who lives nearby.  She points at the threatening settlements.  “Last year settlers came down to Burin and shot two villagers to death.  They cut down olive trees.  What will happen this year?”We leave, and Ahmad accompanies us to the main road so we don’t get lost in the village’s alleyways.

15:15  Huwwara checkpoint.Flags with “My Golani” announce who’s now in charge here.  No delays.  We see the road has been scraped, dozens of concrete barriers lying off to the side.S., the DCO, is happy to see us and says that “they’re going to build a new checkpoint (???!) here, a wide road, with lighting, it will be better, they’re investing here”! (why, for whom)?What will happen during the olive harvest?  “This year the security will be doubled, the army and the special police patrol unit – you won’t believe it.  They’ve already finished plowing and picking olives at Havat Gil’ad without any problems.”  That’s according to S.  We’d also like to believe it.We meet a British film director and her driver, from Nablus.  She’s planning to make a film about Route 60 and is happy to learn the history of the Huwwara checkpoint from us and from the driver.  Since it’s getting late, we return.

Za’tara – no lines.Many settlers wait at the hitchhiking location in the direction of Nablus – to Alon Moreh (?) to fight the freeze/to build Sukkas for eternity?