Jordan Valley: Settler attacks have rekindled the cancer
Thanks to Gil A, we obtained a transit permit for Hamra checkpoint (Beq’aot). Nava had collected blankets, household goods, and warm clothes for the shepherd’s family living south of Beit Hassan. They are suffering terribly at the hands of the violent terrorist settler Moshe Sharvit, on whom five countries have already imposed sanctions. He continues to abuse families in the area and three families have already left because of his lawlessness.
We had difficulty finding the place, but local residents guided us all the way very warmly. We met activists in the Jordan Valley and more lawyers working on the claim against the aforesaid criminal. It’s clear to everyone, lawyers and Palestinians, that the claim doesn’t have much chance because the courts belong to the occupier and are backing him.
We sat with a shepherd and his father’s second wife, an impressive woman who has cancer and claims that the attacks by settlers caused her cancer to return after a long period of remission. They told us about the succession of abuse they have been suffering from. These are things I see and hear over and over and again. All the same, it’s hard to hear about the cruel behavior of our own people, so-called believers. I really don’t think they have a god.
On the way back, we passed a field and one of the people working there flagged us down. We stopped and he brought us a large bag packed with freshly picked watercress, parsley, and coriander. We wanted to pay but he gave us a big smile and refused adamantly. We were in unknown territory, in Area B, with Palestinians we don’t know, but it was clear to them that we were Israelis and not settlers. The warmth and friendliness we get from them always brings tears to our eyes.
The lines at Beq’aot were shorter than usual (in the direction from Nablus to Beq’aot, people waited an hour to cross, it was less in the opposite direction).
We drove into Samara to collect payment for the plastic sheets we had brought them at a subsidized price (our subsidy) – 50% of the regular price.
At Mahmoud’s in Hamra, we saw the shed for his lambs. He has built an extra floor for the lambs so they won’t sink into the mud and has hung up heating lamps. Luxury accommodation! We bought delicious strawberries from him and were happy to hear that the entire crop has been sold. It rained hard in the Jordan Valley this week and we were told everywhere that the rain had saved these water-deprived people. As Mahmoud’s father Zoba’a said “golden rain.” Very late, the Jordan Valley is starting to turn green.