Tarqumiyya – few merchants at the crossing in mid-morning.  The drivers waiting for them are our driver’s neighbors. 

The road to Hebron is fairly quiet, as is the city itself.  The plaza at the Cave of the Patriarchs compound is still ready for the expected celebrations: a stage well-equipped with sound equipment, etc., and rows of chairs already set up.  It turns out there were already celebrations yesterday evening.  A sign announces a performance by “Adon HaSlichot.” 

At ‘Abed’s shop is a group of youths from South Africa and New Zealand with guides from Dror-HaBonim.  They’re spending eight months in Israel and also learning about the conflict.

Signs along Shuhadeh street (“The roots of the Jewish people”….”Giv’at Assaf is in danger – mass prayer”…etc.).  The street is almost empty.

We visited the Jaber family.  We sat with Yusri; ‘Abed joined us after he returned from the vineyard.  The whole family is busy picking grapes.  He says he wasn’t able to access one of his plots because soldiers were engaged in some operation and didn’t permit him to enter.

They say they haven’t had any problems for about a year and a half (remember they had been severely harassed by their neighbors).  We asked about the water problems they’d had with the Civil Administration and with Mekorot (their water had been cut off, all their irrigation lines had been uprooted – we were present when the terrible event occurred).  In short – the problem still hasn’t been solved.  The DCL officer wants to help them; he asked them to write letters but they haven’t received replies.  Meanwhile they’re using water from cisterns in the courtyard and buying tanks of water.

The water is for drinking and for agriculture, their sole source of income.

May you be inscribed in the book of life.