Our goal was to create and strengthen libraries for the children of the Bedouin communities in the southern part of the Palestinian Jordan Valley. Hagar appointed one of the young women in every community as a “librarian”, to whom she brings about 10 books and some boxed games every 2 weeks.  That librarian loans a book to each child and when he/she finishes and returns it, she hands him/her another. Same with the games. Every two weeks Hagar collects the returned books and brings other ones.

First stop – En Rashash. This community lives about 10 kilometers south-east of Duma village. A colonist called Elhanan erected an outpost in a deserted army base and called it Mal’achei Hashalom (Angels of Peace…). Angels of Death would have been a more appropriate name for this outpost. Ever since then, 9 years ago, the people of En Rashash have no more life. First Elhanan and his boys took over the spring and gradually began to attack the shepherds and chase them out of their grazing grounds east of the village. All this was done with the active help of the Israeli Apartheid Forces. Daily they chased the shepherds, attacked them, violently chased the flocks and made pregnant sheep miscarry, frightened them with loud techno music and were helped by the army that issued the shepherds “closed military zone” orders time after time. For years we accompanied the shepherds until four years ago they decided to desist and began to graze their flocks right next to their homes.

About a year ago, the colonists began to “visit” En Rashash village and its inhabitants themselves – entering homes, destroying, threatening, driving wildly at the entrance and attacking shepherds. We, activists of the Palestinian Jordan Valley, look occupation in the eye under the wondrous Rabbi Arik Asherman, and took turns of protective presence. We left people in the village 24/7 in order to protect them. In addition, as war broke out on October 7th, the army came and blocked their winding track leading to the village. And then the colonists came, burned a tent and attacked again. They were forced to leave. Expelled from their home!

The community moved to the outskirts of Duma village, a place with an amazing view of the entire valley. But there was not enough room for everyone and they had to split into three groups. Thus, the life of the community that had consolidated for decades was destroyed. In spite of the beautiful view and the cooler air, they long for home.

We sat with Sumaya in her home and talked, she showed Hagar her 12-year-old daughter whose hand is hurt and remains untreated. Once, Sumaya said, she had one treatment in faraway Ramallah, but she cannot have regular treatment. Hagar promised to bring Vered, the physical therapist who comes to the Valley every two weeks to treat people, voluntarily.

In our way back, I asked to stop for a moment at the Duma council house. I entered and a young man was surprised and asked what I wanted. I asked whether I could use the bathroom and he directed me there, and also invited me to share coffee with him and his pals. I told him I was in a hurry because my friend is waiting for me in the car, in the sun… When I came out, he was waiting for me with a thermos bottle, a bottle of cold water from the fridge and a plastic cup, poured some for me and followed me to the car to give water to Hagar, too.

On our way, between Tayiba Junction and Ma’arajat, we saw a Palestinian village whose inhabitants had left. At Ma’arajat we met Alia again, a charming young woman who has made a nice corner for books and games at the village’s hosting house. In spite of the heat, it was so nice to talk with this intelligent woman. She said that the colonists have left them alone lately. Must be busy elsewhere…

She then showed Hagar the houses and deserted sheep pens of Sliman the Great who has 500 goats. All the families here belong to the Malihat clan (the Ka’abana tribe), like the Malihat family who was chased out of the Hamra area in the north by the criminal colonist Moshe Sharvit. Now they live in the Tubas area after selling their flock.

We then drove to Sabiha, another librarian at Ma’arajat who comes with baskets filled with books and games and receives new ones. Finally, we went to Ras Al Auja and gave out books there.

We finished our day visiting the Zob’a family in the northern Palestinian Jordan Valley, who live above Hamra.

Beqa’ot checkpoint at 2:30 p.m. – dozens of cars wait in line on both sides of the checkpoint. At 3:20 we crossed again, and this time there were only a few cars on each side.

The Besharat family is the legal owner of the land on which it lives. The entire family – 85-years-old parents Mahmoud and Khadija, their children and his sisters with special needs, all work hard and see the fruits of their labor. They grow grass that reaches 10 centimeters a week, strawberries (in the right season), wheat, and of course – sheep. They also produce pure honey from the bees situated somewhere far off. On Tuesday, the family woke up to huge flames that threatened their home. Some of the special grass, and all the pipes were burned. Eye witnesses say the fire began simultaneously in three different locations, which attests to the fact that it was no fluke. An Israeli fire engine refused to come and only stood by in case the fire spread. A Palestinian fire engine arrived quickly, and stopped the fire that was already licking the house walls.

I met the family that day. They were in shock. They thought that someone was trying to burn them alive in their sleep, and that tomorrow that bastard would do it again and nobody is there to investigate it or protect them – is harrowing. As everywhere, the colonists don’t reject any criminal means to expel Palestinians from their land. The father of this family was born 85 years ago on this land which he inherited from his own parents.