Let it not be said we do not have happy times at the hell hole.

This young woman, Ilana, who volunteers with Arik Asherman of Rabbis for Human Rights came with a Palestinian. They had been on his land harvesting olives and they had been threatened with arrest by the army and the colonists. There was a soldier staying outside the DCO building and she called to him repeatedly but the lord of the land did not deign to reply. They said that they had been trying to contact the man who is supposed to do the coordination with the army but did not answer their repeated calls. Ilana remembered Natanya from the demonstrations in Jerusalem.

When we phoned the ‘ Ricardo‘ minimarket, where we are regular customers, we were told that the owners too had not been able to get to their lands.

The Palestinian asked if we were Sylvia and said that she once had helped him and sent regards.

Two of what looked like the hilltop youth, were peering into the confiscated vehicles area when we arrived. They asked Ilana why she was helping Palestinians!

When we left we saw them driving out with their small ATV.  We wondered if they had also had to pay a fine and how come the jeep was actually confiscated. It is probably used by them to drive around the Palestinian areas to frighten them or scatter the sheep.

 A man waiting for the ISA said that he had been taken from his house at two in the morning and had kept him outside in the cold.  He also needed to go to the toilet and  the soldiers would not let him, saying that he could wait until they came to the DCO.  He is the owner of a store which deals in fertilizer and they conducted a search in his shop and then, after 12 hours, they released him. It is hard not to ask the  pertinent question where the shit lies. 

A man who is “prevented information” (Modiin)  also said that Sylvia had helped him and sent his regards.