The weather was pleasant today, near the bicycle center at the entrance to Kibbutz Be’eri there were some hikers and on our way to the “lighthouse” on the narrow field road, several cyclists pedaled.
We were optimistic … Nahshi did not arrive today, but his place (in the car, not in making the coffee …) was taken by Moshe who together with Shmulik and me, we prepared the circle, still optimistic …
Roni arrived and later also Jaber and this is: to take out A military vehicle whose passengers we were intrigued for a moment, approached and immediately turned to the other side and a tank that was heard (not seen …) maneuvering north of us, no promenades were observed in the area …
The conversation then was mainly about the experiences of Moshe and Mine from a tour we conducted on Thursday in Bedouin communities. Some are ” Unrecognized Villages” and one is close to recognition. The tour was organized by Michal Oren and guided by Odelia Matar from the “Forum for Coexistence in the Negev.” During the tour we met and listened to local leaders who brought to us the less enlightened sides of the relationship between the Bedouin citizens and the state and the attempts to regulate civilian life in the country they are citizens, also the failures …
Among other things, we were in El Zarnuk, Jaber’s village. Jaber was not at home but managed to arrive when we left the village and saw each other.
Today Jaber is here, in our “circle” and he adds his own insights. Jaber also attends a tour guiding course and his dealing as a native Arab with the Jewish narratives inherent in the course is particularly interesting.
On the Gaza issue, Roni is the light in the lighthouse and at every meeting brings the information in her possession.
The olive harvest season in the West Bank is coming to an end. Shmulik and I talked about the experience of meeting the families of the farmers who harvest their olive groves under the restrictions and harassment of the army and the settlers.
Shmulik, Nahshi and Shelly (Nahshi’s sister) took Palestinian children from a village near Jerusalem to bathe in the Mediterranean last Saturday! For some it is the first time in their lives that they are at sea! All the participants in the “operation” experienced great happiness and Shmulik shared …
The Lack of travelers in our area, once again raised the issue of finding ways to expand the circle of participants in our lighthouse meetings.
We were: Roni, Jaber, Moshe, Shmulik and Oded.
Wrote: Oded