A visit after the pogrom to Turmus Ayya

In spite of the military operation against Jenin, there was no obvious tension throughout the West Bank. We came to Turmus Ayya to set Maryam (who used to be blind) an appointment for an eye examination at the Hugo Chavez eye hospital, serving the entire West Bank, so that she could go on receiving the injections that give her back her vision. Last week, two days after the fatal pogrom carried out by the colonists, moods were grim and the hospital closed. The security official of the hospital recognized us and took us to the counter where she received an appointment for radiology and examination. The entire procedure was rapid and friendly. Upon exiting the hospital, we met the cab driver who took us to the burnt houses and vehicles (and would not charge us). We asked him how the holiday was (“the holiday of sacrifice”) and he replied, “There was no holiday. We canceled all the celebrations and weddings. We are not in the mood for feasting right now…”

The coffee shop owner was also glad to see us and asked, “Where is your sister?” (meaning Nurit), and when I told him she did not come because she was undergoing eye surgery, he asked if this was in the Turmus Ayya Hospital…

We drove through the colonies of Eli, Shilo, Shevut Rachel, Ge’ulat Zion, Kida, Adi, Esh Kosh and other new outposts between them. All bus stops were “decorated” with different styles of “Revenge” posters.

Through the quarry of Kochav HaShachar we reached Kaboun. Much construction is taking place in the new outpost upon the hill above the encampment, involving a giant bugger, bulldozers and pipes. The outpost, about a month old, threatens Kaboun inhabitants, and is already reached by a new stony track, direct for the “Angels of Peace” whose colonists have taken over the entire area on the hilltops, which includes the grazing grounds of Kaboun and Ein Rashash, all the way to those of Fasail and the springs below. The entire region – thousands of dunams in the 903 firing zone – is controlled by Elhanan, the colonist from Mal’achei HaShalom (angels of peace), and Palestinians are denied grazing there. The area above Kaboun, containing privately-owned Palestinian fields, is called Dahlia.

Finally, we drove over to see whether the colonists actively took over the area that was deserted a month ago at Ein Samiya, and found the ruins unchanged. The schoolhouse is deserted and some of the windows and doors have been stolen. On the other hand, the new outpost above it, and the reason that the Palestinians left, is growing. We counted 8 new structures already. On our way to Ein Samiya, on our way back, we saw a checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Mughayer. Four soldiers inspected every car coming in or going out of the village.