A close neighbor is better than a distant brother …
Soon after Corona, Dorit and I leave with a full load on the Peace Pick Up and, on the way, we meet with David and Moshe.
Two brothers, representing the definition of “settlers” by the fact that they are living in a settlement on Mount Hebron. Moshe has been an activist for years, aiming at creating a society that helps those in need of help. Here, in the region, his aim is to connect Palestinians and Israelis. Trying to promote peace in every possible way: Joint activities, assistance with obtaining entry permits to Israel, connecting Palestinians with potential employers, medical assistance to those who need it. The purpose of our current meeting is to prevent an invasion by a new, idealistic, settler in the area into the land of Mahmoud, his neighbor.
At the entrance to the Wadi we meet another two: Daniel, who loves the simple life of ancient time and is living in this way. For the purpose of describing personalities in this story, I define him as a “hippie settler”, only because he lives in a settlement in southern Hebron. He, himself, does not like any definition that binds him to anything or anyone …
Along with him is Abdullah, a young Palestinian who lives near Daniel – they are neighbors. Daniel picked Abdullah up in his car, and by the time we arrived, they had been speaking nonstop in fluent Arabic!
We continue together, until we arrive at the home of Mahmoud and his family. After courteous introductions, we retire under the tree next to his house at the entrance to the cave. We are surrounded by wheat and barley fields; some of which have already been harvested and are bare and waiting for the threshing, while the remainder are waiting for the hand of Mahmoud’s faith to take care of them.
Mahmoud hosts in the Arab tradition and seems very excited about the guests. When he discovers that everyone also speaks Arabic, he becomes even more excited. Daniel and he exchange knowledge about the types of trees used for making pipes, Mahmoud shows them the local tobacco which he grows and the conversation gains momentum around the growing stages of wheat, cheese preparation and other important life issues.
Meanwhile, Dorit plays with the girls; she plays quietly, unlike us, the chattering men. They snap bracelets and necklaces together with beads and seashells from distant shores that they might see someday …..
Mahmoud tells us a little about the new settler neighbor who purposely enters through his fields, each time bringing the army with him until the army eventually removes the settler from Mahmoud’s land. Everyone is surprised to hear that this time the army rules in favor of the Palestinian. According to the information in their possession, the lands do indeed belong to Mahmoud.
“Nonetheless, it does spoil the atmosphere here”, says Mahmoud with respect, an Arab of old times. He is surprised – “Does he have no shame? How can he purposefully hurt a neighbor, his friend?”
We study Mahmoud’s terrain map and Moshe promises to check the army maps as well to see that they are aligned, and then he will speak directly with the new settler, at eye level. Before Moshe and his brothers separate, Moshe tries to arrange for Mahmoud to enter Israel, to meet his family. Unfortunately, despite his connections, the Corona still does not allow Palestinians to enter Israel except for with work permits.
We depart from Mahmoud and cross the mountain together with the “Peace Pickup”, together with Abdullah and Daniel. We meet Omar, whom I haven’t seen in 3 months due to the Corona. After being introduced, Omar opens up to the humanity that comes from Abdullah and Daniel – and in his cool cave, we drink more tea and eat warm pita that Dorit baked, together with Omar’s wife in their Tabun. After a short talk, Daniel and Omar exchange phones in order to help with hay and food for the animals. Omar tells us about the demolition that happened in the day before, in a neighboring village. During the Corona, the guidelines did not allow house demolishing – now that the closure has been slightly opened, demolition of homes can continue …
We arrive at the village, a girl watching us from afar; and after a brief enquiry, she invites us to join her family. Yesterday they were forced to return to their old home – an ancient cave, after the Civil Administration demolished the hut in which she had lived for the past 10 years.
Just to understand: we are in a desert area; weeds barely grow here. The villages are small; each consists of a few dozen people. At the end of the horizon one sees the city of Arad and at the end of the mountain, some settlements – none of this is nearby, but someone in the Ministry of Defense is disturbed by the fact that there are a few individuals who were born here and live, literally, from hand to mouth – trying to maintain a routine of life.
Jonas, the father of the family, wakes up in order to meet us and we sit down for tea again. He quietly describes the events of yesterday. No anger, no frustration, as if it had happened a100 years ago, not the day before. I ask him how he manages not to get angry, not to be sad. “What can we do? This is our life.
It’s my ancestral land and I have nowhere else to go ...”
Similar words have been heard from the other side as well and we are present, listening: Abdullah, a young Palestinian, neighbor of Daniel, the “Hippie settler”, Dorit and I.
In the evening I write to Benny Gantz, the new minister of defense, and ask for a review of the house demolition policy. It is naïve of me, I know. No one in Israel knows anything; everyone is busy with Corona and the new government. As things heat up and go out of the ordinary tense routine, we will ask “How did this suddenly start up again? After all, it’s been so quiet?”
Quiet because the media has chosen to be silent about what everyone wants to hide “because there is no interest in this for the public” or because there is interest to cover the public pubis with Corona’s mini bikini and new government.
Now I am waiting for his reply; I hope I will have good news to write next time.
Health and Joy,
Eyal.
*Unfortunately, there are still some who do not consider the experience of human connection to be a beautiful sight. The pseudonyms and dark details are meant to cover the essence and keep any harm from my friends. You can read my report as science fiction or wishful thinking; and if you do not believe me, you are welcome to join me and experience it with your own eyes.
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