Distribution of Food Packages

Ahead of time, we asked for permission of the regional commander to cross Beqaot (Hamra) Checkpoint to Nablus. Since war broke out, the checkpoint is manned at all hours of the day and night and long waiting lines of cars stretch in both directions.

Beyond the checkpoint, still in Area C live about 20 shepherd communities harassed regularly by Moshe Sharvit, an infamous colonist.

He has blocked the track to Palestinians’ fields and declared the entire area his own. He often reaches Palestinian homes, breaks in and terrorizes inhabitants – women and children.

In the early morning we drove to Jerusalem and at the YMCA car-park loaded about 20 food packages donated by Rabbis for Human Rights onto two cars. From there we continued via Road no. 1 on both sides of which the shepherd communities are located. Later, via Road 90 we made our way to the Palestinian Jordan Valley and the Beqa’ot Checkpoint in Hamra.

We easily crossed the checkpoint in the direction of Nablus and first distributed packages to five families about 2 kilometers westward, not far from the main road. After about 5 kilometers, in the heart of Beit Hassan we turned left in a narrow, potholed road and climbed the hills in the south. We passed by tended fields until getting to the gate that blocks the way. This is the gate that criminal colonist Moshe Sharvit placed in order to prevent Palestinians from accessing their own fields. We reached the home of M., unloaded 5 food packages there, and 3 for his father who lives higher up on the hill and reachable only by a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.

As we unloaded the packages, five elderly women arrived on foot. They said the land beyond the gate belong to their family and are sown, but men are afraid to come there because last time they did, they were attacked by Moshe. Today is a holiday and the women came to see their own land that was robbed, and cry over it.

As we began to drive, another man with a child stopped us, saying that he lives on the hill, and he too cannot graze his flock because of Moshe Sharvit’s attacks. His situation is dire. We gave him 5 packages of basic food stuffs (flour, rice, oil, lentils, preserves etc.).

On our way back, we encountered a long waiting line of cars. We understood that if we stand in line we shall have to spend two hours there. Feeling torn, we took advantage of our privileges as Israelis and drove around the waiting line as we still had things to do at Humsa. When we reached the top of the waiting line, we didn’t wait politely until called by the soldier, as the Palestinians have no other choice but to do (and how humiliating is that!). We immediately approached the soldier. He scolded each of us for not waiting for his hand gesture and wait in line like everyone else, and continued educating the natives but we knew that he cannot really do anything except make us wait a bit, for are Jews and this is apartheid land. We are the privileged in Palestine. A highly unpleasant feeling that is a part of our activity and has always been.

After crossing the checkpoint, someone called us, saying she and her family did not receive food packages. We never knew they lived there. After confronting the soldiers earlier, we only had one package left so we asked the family who received many packages from us to let her have them too. It was a horrible feeling, someone felt dealt out in the difficult situation which all families in this area must face.

From we continued to Humsa, to bring A. a used phone because hers was broken, and wish her a happy holiday. We also went up to Mahmoud who was hosting his brothers and their families for a holiday meal. He sat us down immediately to join their wonderful Maklouba. A real pleasure that was a bit of a consolation…