As we follow the sheep out to pasture, the valley and hills spread out below us. The eastern sky is red giving way to sunrise. We pass through rows planted to grape, papaya, and olive. The sheep nibble on what looks like bare soil, finding bits of nourishment this harsh environment offers.
A settler arrives to man a guard post which is there to protect the illegal settlement. The guard post actually marks an expansion of the area of the illegal settlement. The expansion was not bought by or given to the illegal settlement; it is land just taken.
As daylight illuminates the ground, we can see the scattered irrigation lines, evidence of a destructive attack by the settlers to drive the farmer off the land. In the daylight, I can now see that the rows of grape, olives, and papaya are mostly dying from lack of water which was the intent of destroying the irrigation system.
My anger at contemplating the destruction of the irrigation system is interrupted by the sight of some soldiers arriving over the hill. As they approach us, they are joined by another military group. They demand IDs from everyone even though we are on the farmer's private land. They even demand ID from the farmer who they know by name. Demanding ID is not benign. Just days ago, two internationals were arrested and deported on trumped-up charges starting with demanding IDs.
As the sun gets hot, we follow the sheep back. I see all this as the face of the daily illegal taking of land from the Palestinians. Land that has been theirs for generations. Land that is being taken, by harassment and force, to expand Israeli settlements that are illegal.
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