Purpose of trip: A visit to pay condolences for the killing (murder?) of Odeh Hadalin. We have known Odeh and this entire community for many years, since our time working in kindergartens, in Umm al-Khair and Hashem al-Daraj. Odeh is Khalil’s brother, whose wife, Dalal, worked with us in the kindergarten.

Highway 317:

Meitar Industrial Zone: The parking lot is full of cars with Palestinian license plates. It really clashes with the empty parking lot at the Meitar border crossing. While the occupation ministers, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, do not allow Palestinian workers to enter Israel, the settlements enjoy, exploit, and flourish under the auspices of the Palestinian plight. It seems that many Palestinian residents work here.

Asael: We see construction in full swing in the outpost, which was recently registered as an approved settlement. We see rigid construction, stone buildings, a concrete pump, a crane. Maon Carmel Promenade: Construction continues. It looks beautiful and inviting. It has already moved to the other side of the road, next to the settlements’ vineyards and orchards.

Umm al-Khair: We met Aziz, Odeh’s brother, Tarek and Ahmad (who was injured in the incident), cousins, and Nasr Nawaja’a from Susiya, and other residents. Very hot. There are also two international activists, one from Russia (staying in Hebron as usual), and Matan from the US, who was in the village on the day of the incident in which Odeh was killed.

They are all apathetic and desperate. As if all their strength has melted away in the political and environmental situation. In the background, the noise of construction of what the settlers call the “Carmel Expansion”. We brought water and dates.

“Carmel Expansion”: Khirbet Umm al-Khair, which is in question, is a tiny settlement, right on the Carmel fence. This small village lies just above the intersection of roads 317 and 356. On one side, along its entire length, is the settlement of Carmel, blocked by a formidable fence or wall. On the other, the Carmel chicken coops. There is only one side open, to the south, to areas that can be used for grazing. Inside the village runs an asphalt-paved path that starts near the Carmel chicken coops and ends at a large, yellow side entrance gate to the settlement.

Some time ago, we reported on a “relaxation corner” that the Carmel settlers built on the southern side, right next to the residential cabin of a family from the village: relaxation for the settlers and noise for the Palestinians. Now the settlement is being expanded beyond the relaxation corner. In other words, the intended “expansion” will block the village and turn it into a ghetto, with a single exit to roads 317-356. The exit to the pastures will be blocked! The construction of the expansion today includes several workers and two excavators for excavation (probably). No one has the strength to keep up. Nasr, his eyes are watering. He seems to have a sensitivity problem with his eyes. Maybe he needs some drops. But he claims that it is only to hide the real tears. Aziz says that as long as there is water and electricity, they will hold out and not give up.

Odeh’s mother sits in a house across the asphalt path. At least there is a fan here. A hug, that’s all that is possible.

Water pipe: The digging of the settlement expansion tore (broke) the water pipe to the village. Sources promised to fix it. Eid apparently went to supervise the repair. Now, there is no water in the village.

On the day of the incident, Yinon and the worker returned in the direction of the yellow side gate of Carmel through the village’s areas. They tore down the village’s dilapidated fence, around the central area, and ran over young olive seedlings around it. When the villagers went out to keep them away from the village centre, the incident occurred. Odeh stood at a distance, in the village centre, taking pictures. That’s where he fell.

Before we left, Nasr takes us to the edge of the covered compound, where the residents had marked a circle with stones. Inside a silhouette of a man is visible. This is Odeh’s blood after he fell.

Muhammad asks: How is it possible for a man to shoot another man like that? Take a life for nothing?

Back, on the descent to the junction 317-356, we see the entire valley between the area of Masafer Yatta and Yatta. So beautiful. The silence and the beauty and the never-ending pain.