Nakba day

Route 60

At Dura much traffic including Palestinian trucks. The orange taxis travel along winding dirt roads to reach the interior villages, such as Samu’.

In the villages close to the road, the gates are closed and the traffic between them is on foot and the taxis operate in a back-to-back system. To Dura, the main entrance is locked and vehicle traffic is conducted on a steep and dangerous dirt road towards Hebron.

 Hebron

We entered from the industrial area of Kiryat Arba, the road is empty. To the left of the House of Contention – on the bottom floor the Jewish shops are all open. On the other side of the road – the Palestinian shops are closed. The Kafisha neighbourhood barrier is closed with two yellow barriers and metal curls. The Kfir Brigade secures the city and it seems that it is mainly afraid of risks: From the Tarpat (1929) checkpoint to Tel Romeida there are many checkpoints scattered, all of them almost empty and only at the two ends of the ascending road are they staffed. All the Palestinian shops between the Cave of the Patriarchs and Tel Romeida are closed, the court offices are also closed (in front of the boys’ school) the teacher we spoke with claims that this has been the case since October 7.

Muhammad found one grocery store that opened three days ago but they refused to sell him even water, fearing that the army would close again.

Near the ancient and dilapidated stairs that go up to the Córdoba Girls’ School, the gate is closed and the girls with their teachers have to go up and go around Tel Romeida to reach their homes. This locked gate is guarded by a soldier. We couldn’t understand from him why a closed and locked path needs to be maintained.

The open and watchful eye of the IDF was also expressed in the inspections of our vehicle. Muhammad was waiting for us in the parking lot of the Cave of the Patriarchs and had the honour of the army investigating and inspecting the contents of the vehicle, as they also did to us once more when leaving Hebron towards Kiryat Arba.

We drove north to the Shuyukh-Se’ir intersection to meet Ahmad. A month ago, we were there and were surprised to see that the square that separates the villages on both sides of Highway 60 had been turned into a signposted intersection with pedestrian crossings. So, there is also good news for the Palestinians? Of course, they left the at the intersection cement blocks to allow security for the soldiers when they arrive to inspect. In the meantime, the entrance to Se’ir is closed by the gate and the transport is through the more northern entrance, near Halhul.

To the south on Highway 60 rises above Kiryat Arba, Givat Gal, a Palestinian area on which more and more Jewish houses are popping up.

Roues 356 and 317

Zif intersection is open to traffic. Along the road and in the side wadis there are new terraces and green fields. The claim is that in the absence of the possibility to work in Israel, the owners of the lands returned to cultivating them. At the same time, on the hilltops, more and more illegal outposts are emerging, decorated with huge Israeli flags. Sometimes, before the establishment of a settlement, a guard tower appears on the hill or in a strategic place on the side of the road (under Abigayil). A creeping takeover.

We brought bags of clothes and shoes to Sha’ab al Butum. Since we were not with the jeep, we announced our arrival, and a child was sent on a donkey to the road. As in the days of the Bible – what the donkey can carry is what its owners will receive.