On the other hand, in these difficult days, in the middle of the Palestinian war of liberation, it is very important that the threads still connecting Israelis and Palestinians are not broken, as extremists on both sides would wish. It is also important to show the Palestinians that there are peace forces in Israel who want to display solidarity during their hardest hour.

These arguments won. It was decided to mobilize by phone the activists who were ready to leave their work on a working day and to take part in the action. Within two hours, 20 volunteered. And so, on Friday, we were on our way from Tel-Aviv in a minibus driven by an Arab-Israeli. From Jerusalem, another contingent, led by the "Rabbis for Human Rights" group, were also on their way.

We arrived at Hares without mishap. On the way we did not encounter any army checkpoint. Even the checkpoint which was located for years on the Green Line, near Kafr Kassem, had mysteriously disappeared.³⁰

We entered the village on foot, climbing the hill, crossing a field of desolation-old olive trees cut down, ancient terraces destroyed, apparently to enable the army to shoot without hindrance.

From the direction of the mosque we heard the Friday prayers as we crossed the quiet village by foot and left it by the western entrance, on the way to the plantations. There the army stopped us with armored jeeps and heavily armed soldiers. A tough major (or perhaps lieutenantcolonel, the bullet-proof vest made it difficult to be sure) quickly filled out a prepared form, signed in advance by the C/O Central Command for all occasions, declaring the Hares plantations a "closed military area." We were requested to leave.³¹

We refused, of course. We pointed out that the settlers, who were shouting slogans and cursing us, were allowed to pass freely in their cars. Then a superior officer, a lieutenant colonel or perhaps colonel (as above) appeared. We were told that he was the brigade commander.

We argued with him. He was a sympathetic, intelligent officer, with a sense of humor, one of those who are called "regular fellows," which made what he said sound even more objectionable. Why the discrimination between the settlers and the Palestinian villagers? Well, it's because the villagers throw stones. Why punish a whole village for the deeds of a minority? "I am not sure it's a minority." It was quite clear that his heart is with the settlers, whose life, as he said, "had become hell." For him, the Palestinians were enemies, no sentiments attached.

Why does he not permit us to harvest olives? "Because you came here to provoke the settlers." We answered honestly that we had no such intention.

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