We arrived in Farisiya at 07:00 AM and met up with our friends who had been on the night shift.  Two people went out to accompany N. in Humsa.  He crossed the road with his flock of sheep but did not go into the firing range where he was allowed to graze his flock for fear he would be evicted or encounter opposition.  There were none of the settlers or soldiers in the area and the flocks continued to graze without disturbance until 3:00 PM.   Two other people went out with Z. and his brother H. towards Zurial Farm to the southwest, but they did not go far.  They prepared breakfast for themselves in the field of pita bread and goat cheese and tea.  They returned at 3:30 in the afternoon without being disturbed.

Two escorts remained in Farisiya who played with the children, helped them with their homework, and visited among the families.  This is usually accompanied by breakfast, coffee, tea, and lunch.

Most of the escorts left at 4:00 in the afternoon and two remained for the night shift.  They were joined by another two volunteers who arrived at 7:00 in the evening.

Towards evening Daniel, the person in charge of security from the settlement of Rotem, and parked his vehicle near the sheep pen in a makeshift observation point consisting of a chair, a flag, and spotlights that shone on the village.  

The volunteers and the residents did not react.  This is a daily ritual designed to antagonize and scare people.

The night in Farusiya passed without incident as well.  We were not called or needed anywhere else. 

However, things are still happening.  There has been no rain and there is no food for the flocks in Farisiya, Hums, and Ein El Hilweh the ground is dry.  Last year at this time there was already rain and vegetation, and there is no food for the sheep and cows.   The pasture area is shrinking constantly because the pasture land belonging to the settlers is constantly expanding.   The orders from the army declaring “Firing Area” and daily threats by the settlers delay the shepherds from taking their flocks to graze several times each week.   The settlers encroach on the shepherds’ land without fear and insolently prepare the ground for planting.   The Palestinians are not permitted to enter.

The shepherds are desperate because the sheep and cows are hungry and cannot  produce enough milk to make cheese to sell, and they are beginning to see dead lambs.  The shepherds have nowhere to go.  There is nothing but desolation of dry read earth and sand. 

There is no law in the land.  The Chosen People who were once persecuted have become persecutors, and have become worse than their persecutors in the Diaspora-