Hebron, South Hebron Hills

We chose to reach Khursa via Route 358 leading to the Lakhish area where the entrance was built to the Negohot settlement. To the right of the road is a winding wall. Behind it are Beit Awwa houses and other Palestinian communities.

You have to see to believe what an impressive barrier this is. One travels through a beautiful and winding mountain road. Area A.

But Negohot and B  are stuck there.

The A part is already established and B is only built with caravans in the meantime. Then we arrived at the large checkpoint, staffed by well-armed women soldiers. A friendly hand wave and it opens. This time we were not questioned as to who we were and where we were headed.

Everything is pastoral and beautiful, a false picture. and everything is monitored.

We reached Khursa whose ipeople suffer from this monitored road every day. As said before, it is built in the heart of the village. A pillbox is adjacent to the village diwan. And a rolling  checkpoint, several times a day, is set up  just because Negohot crosses it .

Because we arrived at "noon" we had the privilege of seeing the soldiers emerge from the pillbox area and setting up to guard the road. 

The villagers tell of  the daily difficulties  because of these  rolling  barriers. Remember: Area A.

Towers reaching to the  sky: pillboxes,  the turrets of the  mosque and water towers. A crazy reality.

Hebron

Next to the Cave of the Patriarchs a group of tourists from Germany, guided by Abed's son are surprised to meet us and ask to be photographed: Women protesting against the occupation are not met  every day.

Someone from "Breaking the Silence" is also waiting for some students from one of the Democratic schools to come.

Everything is routine and no one is bothered that just the day before the Border Patrol thwarted an attempt at stabbing.

Abed says that he saw all this  and continues as usual to happily host every passer-by.

Chronicle of Conquest.