We arrived at the Berkat Mekorot area in front of Moshe Sharvit’s illegal outpost and parked the car at 07:15. We walked about 500 meters to fields in a valley about 300 meters away from the outpost.

The shepherds P. and M. arrived at 07:30 from their home on the hill together with their five children . This was the last day of the holiday that marks the ends the month of Ramadan – Eid al-Fitr. They resumed grazing after months of avoiding   the threats of  Moshe Sharvit and his brothers – the outlaws from the outpost established about a year and a half ago. Their funds came from the Jewish Agency and the Amana organization.
The soldiers back up the illegal outpost, visit it and even deport the shepherds without any reson. In February, the army arrested one of the shepherds who was with us, on the charge of illegal grazing in the territory, even though the territory does not belong to anyone and the outpost is clearly illegal even according to the laws of the occupation. The shepherd was forcibly handcuffed and taken to the Binyamin police station for questioning. One of his damaged hands did not return to function properly as a result of excessive tightening of the handcuffs. The shepherd was released after half of the day with the help of a fund for aid to human rights activists, whose lawyers clearly demonstrated that there was no reason to arrest the shepherd.

Since the incident in February, the herders have been afraid to go out into these areas, where they previously grazed for decades without any fear and earned a meager but dignified living. During the last winter they were forced to feed their herds only with the grass that grew around their homes in the village and with purchased fodder that cost them a fortune and impoverished them.

In these weeks, they gather courage again and try to march from their place of residence in a village in the east, from 6:00 a.m., towards the field beyond the outpost hill, which is still abundant with winter grass that is slowly turning yellow.

We met them at 8.00 and sat down next to the elderly shepherds, at the top of the hill overlooking the wadi and the paths, in an illusion of peace beneath which there is fear of the known – the army and the settlers. In the process, the herd disperses around us and the children frolic among themselves and keep the herd from going too far. There is still a lot of yellow grass and the sheep await with pleasure the temporary abundance, which will also soon disappear. The shepherds were alert for any car movement on the path leading to Moshe’s illegal outpost, but noted that these were neither army vehicles nor the vehicles of the Sherbit family. At the same time, take out a thermos and order for morning coffee.
When we pointed out to them that they know and hear every noise, they answered in Arabic: The pasture is quiet at the moment, but we are alert and afraid of Moses and the army. They may appear at any moment.

The herd continued to graze quietly and peacefully until about 10.00, then a military vehicle was seen on the path below at a distance of 50 meters. They ran away in fear of being arrested and asked us to stay with the children and the herd.

The military vehicle was parked in a wadi, from which an officer and a soldier went up towards the herd. The herd that continued to graze with the children, probably felt in danger and started moving in circles instead. At one point they asked the children who shepherds the flock? The children answered in Arabic that they were alone shepherding the flock. We asked if there was a problem and a short conversation began between us and the officer. First of all, the officer complained about his fate – that we curse him online and call him a murderer, etc. We replied that we do not call him derogatory names and we did not see these words with us. On the other hand – he expels the shepherds and does not allow them to make a living and graze in the fields, and protects the illegal outpost also in accordance with the laws of occupation. He claimed that he only came to talk to the shepherds and they are not here, but he saw two running away and it was his duty to chase them because they might be terrorists. At all, he didn’t understand why they were running away from him. He could not imagine even in his mind how afraid they are of people in uniform and weapons, especially after experiencing an unjust arrest, and an injury to the palm. The officer stated that he had come to show the shepherds the boundaries of the pasture plot and also that there was an agreement between the shepherds and Moshe and the army. We explained to him that there was no agreement because the land does not belong to anyone and that they have been grazing there for years. We also made it clear to him that we expect the army to protect the shepherds from the attacks of the settler and his men.

The children continued to herd the flock in the meantime, but the suspicious sheep began to point with their feet and moved slowly back east. The officer and soldier rushed to the base for the Memorial Day ceremony and left.

We called the shepherds to ask if they wanted to come back, but they stated that the herd had eaten enough and no more of us were needed. Say goodbye to us with thanks.

We returned to our car on the path and the settler’s car drove over it at speed, beeped loudly and almost ran us over.

Occupation, occupation, occupation – and the lords of the land and their army are led at every angle, ignoring the basic orders of the Fourth Zanba Convention – safeguarding and protecting the lives of the local residents and their well-being.