jump into the ditch and wait. To climb up the slope under fire from above would be simply suicidal. But nothing happens.

Abu-Ghosh. For the first time we see an Arab village where the inhabitants are working peacefully. Some children run in to the road to look at us as we drive by. The adults try and behave as though they don’t see us.

A discussion begins on the truck. How should we behave to the Arabs? Moshe and Nachman are in favor of a hard line. I tend to sup-port tolerance.

On the hill to the right a figure is standing and waving. On his head he is wearing a sock hat. We reply with a cheer. We have reached the eastern part of Nachshon, the position that our comrades captured while we were securing the road from the west.

* * *

From here on it is a friendship tour. From all the positions along the road our bearded comrades shout something to us.

Someone points to a steep mountain to the right of us, with a flag waving. I take the field glasses. It is a blue-white flag. That is the famous Castel.²⁰

We are a bit annoyed about this Castel. It became famous and overshadowed our victories although we saw them as the peak of military success. The people from Castel have climbed down to us on the road. Someone raises a tin of sardines in our honor: the symbol of the army at the front. Together we have fought to clear this road. They have suffered the same as us, made the same sacrifices, fought like us with grenade launchers, rifles, against fleas and sardines. A silent friendship unites us. We don’t need many words. A rough curse and a smile are enough.

In the distance we can see the suburbs of Jerusalem. We prepare ourselves for the high point of our journey - the ceremonial entry into the city. We are riding on the boxes of cheese. Nachman combs his blond quiff. Moshe gives his sock hat the right dashing line. Yehudah puts on his American goggles and looks like a company commander at the very least.

* * *

None of us will ever forget this moment: hundreds of vehicles and their escorts drive into the waiting city to the cheers of the inhabi-tants who collect in groups on the streets, on balconies, on the roofs.

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