I went back to Walaja twice this winter. The second time was to show some friends that old olive tree I posted about last time. Its a walk I've done a few times, but this go around I got almost totally lost.
The wee dirt path that I had followed in times past was now a four-meter-wide three-meter-deep gouge into the hill face.
Oh, if you didn't know, Walaja is the latest site of construction for Israel's wall. Yes, its still being built. No, its not really for security. The shepherds that cross this hill today and will not be able to cross it tomorrow are not terrorists. They are Palestinians.
Anyway.
In looking for the tree my point of reference had always been these two old agricultural buildings just down the hill. When I went back this time, I didn't recognize them.
