South Hebron Hills

South Hebron Hills Monday morning, 25 October 2004. Observers: Paula R., Nomi S. (reporting)Departure 6:30 from Tel Shoket.All the CPs along roads 60 and 35 were open with no soldiers present. Cars pass freely at Dura –al Fawwar and at the Hebron-Halhul bridge. At the Sheep’s crossing we spoke to a taxi driver who was parked on the Hebron side inside the crossing. He has no permit and is taking a chance on being caught. He informed us that the Zif CP out of Yatta is open as of 6:30 in the morning. A military jeep stood at the "Humanitarian CP" [where ambulances and medical aid are allowed through during closures] but no cars were stopped there.Hirbet Tawani Hagit reported to us that stones had again been thrown at the kids from Tuba on their way to school as they passed Havat Ma’on. We met S', the head of the municipality, whose car was stuck on a dirt mound at the side of the road. He told us that all the roads between the village and Yatta have been closed and now, in order to get to Yata, one has to make a huge detour. (This is how conditions are being eased, he asked.) He was waiting for a tractor to pull him out. We asked him to call the school to find out whether the kids who had been attacked had made it to school today. The did indeed arrive (the long way – 8 km instead of 1½ km ). We continued, but then Hagit called to tell us that soldiers had threatened S' with having him arrested by the police. We went back and waited with him for the tractor. In the meantime another car with soldiers stopped. One of the soldiers inquired as to who we were. The other asked S' why he went where he shouldn’t be going. They left, and when the tractor started to pull out S's car, another car with soldiers arrived. The captain who got out of the car advised the tractor driver how best to pull out the car and was very helpful. As soon as he saw that the mission had been accomplished he got back in the car and left. Good cooperation….