עיקול 90

I'm back, and it's been weird. Returning to the army after a month abroad, living life like a person again, certainly comes with its challenges. However, there are those moments where I know it's worth it, and sometimes it's the little things that give me that indication.

For the last few weeks my gdud (battalion) has been on Kav. What does that mean? This means that we take a certain region of the country and become responsible for ensuring the safety and stability of the area. The three main areas I could be on Kav is either along the Gaza border, along the northern borders of Syria and Lebanaon, or in the many different regions of the nuanced and complicated West Bank. The West Bank, in particular, has many different battalions stationed from all over the army due to the pure need of more military strength in this region compared to other parts of the country.

Right now my battalion is station in the middle of Shomron, and my pluga in particular is in charge of several Jewish settlements including Karnei Shomron, Ginot Shomron, and Maale Shomron; as well as several Palestinian villages of which the city of Azzun is the largest of them. This area is right across the green line from Kfar Saba, but feels likely a completely different world. We are only here for a short three weeks, ensuring the safety and stability of this region.

Of all the places in the West Bank, this area isn't necessarily one of the most dangerous, and the main threat is rock throwing. Over the past two weeks we've been here, there have been at least five incidents of rock throwings where car windows are dangerously shattered with passengers inside, and the big rock making its way into the car, has the possibility to dangerously injure whoever is inside. As such, we have fortified the roads, ensuring that nobody comes close to the roads edges.

A main point of focus, and my favorite place to be, is עיקול 90. I don't know if this is it's real name, but that's at least what we call it, and I don't even know what עיקול means.

However, this area is located on a side road from the main highway into the settlement of Maale Shomron. Along this side road there is a 90 degree curve where cars need to slow don't dramatically in order to make the turn safely. Maybe you can see where I'm going with this.

*In red I circled the Palestinian village of Azzun, in blue I circled the Jewish Settlement of Maale Shomron, in green I circled the forest in between Azzun and the 90 degree turn, and in orange I marked the turn

This turn is only a short distance from the Palestinian village of Azzun, and this means that it's relatively easy for the residents of the village to make there way to this turn, ecspecially because the area between is primarily trees and shrubbery.

Since the cars at this turn need to slow down in order to make the turn, it makes them an easy target for someone hiding behind a tree with a rock in hand, and then coming out the last second to make the throw. This is exactly what happened last week when there were no soldiers station there at the time, and the rocks penetrated the front window shattering the glass, all while a baby was sitting in the back seat. Thank god the two in the car were not injured or worse, and the two suspects were ultimately arrested later in the day. However, for this very purpose, we are placed there.

In essance, just the sole fact that soldiers with guns are there deters pretty much anyone from coming close to the road. Even though we aren't going to shoot a gun on a rock thrower, this still deters anyone from wanting to mess with us, and since that incident, there hasn't been another rock throwing there in two weeks.

Last Friday I was placed at this very place, and as I mentioned earlier, it's my favorite place to be. Upon arrival we saw the shattered class on the road from the incident that occurred earlier that week, and obviously that wasn't fun to see.

Since this place of shmira (guard duty) is placed on this side road leading into Maale Shomron, the residents of the settlement loves

to spoil us, and I had not expected that beforehand. After 20 minutes, someone already came by and brought us warm pastries from the nearby bakery. I thought it was very nice and obviously thanked them for the gesture. However, to my surprise, that wasn't the end. Over the five hours I was there, nine different cars stopped by handing us food, drinks and words of gratitude. I then heard that when I left from my shift, another five people came with food over the next few hours. On top of that, many others simply stopped by to say thanks, and many asked if we needed anything. This mainly happens here because of our visibility to all the residents leaving and coming into the settlement.

We received pastries, homemade brownies, cans of drinks, bags filled with snacks and cookies, bread, bourekas, and a box filled with hot water, tea and coffee; and I heard that after I left someone brought burgers (unfortunately I missed that). I was shocked how many people brought food and appreciated us standing out there, and despite my love of food and ability to eat almost anything, even I was overwhelmed.

In addition to this, many other people have brought food and drinks to the front gate of our outpost, including a group of people last Thursday night who set up a table with music playing, and gave everyone cookies, cakes, coffee and tea.

*Cookies, cakes, coffee and tea a that was brought

The appreciation and gestures are truly a unique thing, and something so special to this army and country that I'd be surprised to see it somewhere else. There is nothing better than drinking a warm tea during a cold shmira, an it's something I gratefully appreciate, and why I love doing Shmira at עיקול 90 more than anywhere else.