Monday, October 26
CPTers observed an evening prayer vigil held by 30 settlers for
Israeli settler Danny Vargas from Kiryat Arba who had been murdered that
afternoon by Palestinians.

At 10:00 p.m. Israeli military jeeps drove through the 20% of Hebron still
under Israeli control, called H-2, announcing via loud speakers "ALEKUUM
MAMNOUA TTJOWWAL!!!!" (curfew is imposed on you. It is forbidden for you to
leave your homes).

Tuesday, October 27
The H-2 area was under curfew all day and night as a collective punishment for
the murder of Danny Vargas.

In the evening, CPTer Bourke Kennedy was on the roof of our building looking
through binoculars at the city. From the roof, one can see clearly into the
soldier camp. The soldier posted on the roof top opposite of ours told the
Bourke that it was forbidden to look into the soldier camp. About 20 minutes
later, another CPTer Sara Reschly was on the roof looking down into the market
observing soldiers who had stopped four CPTers in the street.

The soldier from the roof top checkpoint yelled at her: "You fuckin' bitch;
if you look with your binoculars again, I'll arrest you." Reschly smiled at
him. The soldier yelled, "Bitch! Don't smile or I'll arrest you."

Reschly, who was busy observing the interaction below in the street, said to
the
soldier, "shh."

The soldier yelled, "Don't tell me to shut up, bitch! Your stupid
organization..." Reschly left her position on the roof, to one that was out
of his eyesight.

Wednesday, October 28
At 9:00 a.m. the Israeli military announced that curfew was lifted.

Abdel Hadi Hantash of the Hebron Palestinian Land Defense Committee (LDC)
reported that a new settlement is being constructed South of the Palestinian
village of Yatta. Meanwhile, the Israeli government issued six stop work
orders to Palestinian families living in the Yatta area.

Saturday, October 31
Abdel Hadi Hantash of the LDC reported that the Israeli government announced
that three settlements in the Hebron area (Talim, Adora, and Karmei Tzur) will
be expanded.

Sunday, November 1
The CPT delegation of five members from the Fellowship of
Reconciliation (FOR), an inter-faith organization working on peace and justice
issues, arrived to spend four days with the team. The FOR group included a
rabbi, a Muslim, two Christians and a Socialist.

Monday, November 2
CPTers met with the head mistress of the Qurtuba Girls School, located on
Shuhadda street directly across from the Jewish settlement of Beit Hadassah.
She stated that for the past two weeks soldiers and some settlers having been
harassing students and teachers as they pass by the settlement on their way to
the school.

She showed the team pictures of several adults and one 13 yr. old student who
were physically manhandled. She stated that today soldiers began pushing
harshly the girls and calling them "bitch, whore."

In the afternoon, FOR delegation members visited with Palestinian families
involved in CPT's Campaign for Secure Dwellings. On the way to the visit,
CPTers observed that cars with Palestinian plates were refused entry on the
road that passes in front of the settlement of Kiryat Arba. Settlers were
commemorating/ demonstrating for Danny Vargas, marking the end of the 7-day
Jewish mourning period. The
soldier stated that only "Jewish cars" could pass through.

CPTer Sara Reschly responded, "So Arab cars are not allowed through, only
Jews."
Soldier: "Yes."
Reschly: "That's not fair."
Soldier: "No, it's not fair, but it's an order."

Traveling by Palestinian taxi, the CPTers tried a back road to reach the
family, which was 15 minutes out of the way, but again were stopped at a
checkpoint.

Reschly: "We are from America and are here to visit a Palestinian family at
his home, which is just one kilometer from here."
Israeli Police: "You can go on foot, but not by car."
Reschly: "Really, we are here just to visit this family. You can search the
car if you want."
Police: "We are not worried about you. We are afraid that they'll see that
this is an Arab car and will stone you."
Reschly: "This doesn't make sense to me. In my mind, if you are worried
about settlers stoning us, then you should go and prevent them and allow the
cars to pass. Why punish Arabs for the actions that the settlers might make?"
Police: "Yes, that's a good question."

After negotiating with the head police officer, the car was allowed to pass
with a police escort.

Tuesday, November 3
At 7:00 a.m. CPTers and FOR delegates were present at the Qurtuba Girls
School. From 7-7:30 the girls were allowed to pass in front of Beit Hadassah
settlement on their way to school. Suddenly, at 7:30, the soldiers began
preventing the girls from walking in front of the settlement, making them go a
longer way around.

CPTers asked them why they were no longer allowing the girls to pass. The
soldier replied,
"We got new orders."

Meanwhile, settler children began leaving