Throughout the trip to Hebron I talked on the phone with the people of Hebron. The radio also reported that in one of the cities Corona is  spreading. We decided to drive anyway to see what is happening.

Basel of Tuwani wanted us to see the destruction of the agricultural infrastructure the day before by the occupation forces but they are also in closure. We will go there next week if possible.

Hebron can be entered but we decided not to meet the people for health reasons. So I called M. He first sounded  frightened and worried and said that there are hundreds of patients and a few dozen more have been added today (no exact names and numbers this time. The reason will be clarified as the report is read). M. says that he just finished being interviewed in the army radio staton. They called him and wanted to hear what the situation was in Hebron. He goes on to request that Israel would  help and  intervene and provide them with the medicines and equipment they need.  The PA has no means to do so  and everyone is dependent on Israel. He also says that the money they receive from Israel each month has not yet been transferred.

“We’re sitting at home, not letting the kids out, and we don’t have enough masks.” He repeats this and is very scared.

I promised to write about it.

I called I. He is also from the same area in Hebron. I asked how they are. “We’re fine”, he says.

It is true that there are many patients but he cites completely different numbers from those received before.

“Do you have enough alcogel and masks and food?” I’m asking

Yes there are everything in the stores.

I asked him why. M. is  scared.

And he answers me in a way that makes it clear again how successful the “separation and rule” policy was.

Once again he tells about the funds transferred by the Authority which are supposed to be for the benefit of the entire neighborhood and remain with M. and his family. There are more stories about internal problems which these days must be aggravating. He, too, says they remain in compliance with the rules and hope for better days. He also invites us to visit him and we again convince him that this is not the time for meetings.

Hebron is almost desolate. The streets of the Patriarchs cave area are deserted, and in the absence of tourists, all the shops there are closed. The soldiers, of course, are on duty at every turn.

In the Cafisha neighborhood, the grocery store is almost bustling and there is nothing missing. Including masks and alcogel.

Kiryat Arba also looks more desolate than usual. In the new garden erected in Goldstein’s tomb, many new flowers and shrubs have been planted.

We returned via Route 317.

The gap between the beautiful and new neighborhoods in the settlements Susiya, Ma’on and Carmel and the poor conditions of nearby Palestinian communities cries out to the sky even from the road.

Close to the Meitar checkpoint, there are workers who apparently finished working or failed to get into Isreal..

Everyone wears masks.