It is Shavu’ot now — the Jewish Holiday of Harvest — and our forces are back in Jenin city and refugee camp. Their harvest includes 30 arrested Palestinians from the General Security Service’s “wanted list”, 2 killed adults “terrorists shot while trying to escape”, and one 15 year old boy. Read more about Shavu'ot in Jenin: Who should you believe? 

Last week, PM Sharon declared that “Operation Defensive Shield” ended. The image that the government seeks to project is that the fighting is over. Read more about On the ground: continued violence 

An ad inserted into the bottom of my TV screen during a soccer match reads “Violence does not win”. Yes, business here appears as usual again — the soccer league here is just about over, people are back in coffee shops and movie theaters, and the summer is fast approaching. Read more about Back to normal? An Israeli virtual reality 

While hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are currently at risk for infectious diseases, still lack running water, electricity, or a working sewage system, and while the IDF is still denying relief workers access to some areas (mainly around Jenin), Israel is celebrating its Independence Day. Read more about Disturbing parallels and unbearable dissonances 

On Saturday, about 3,000 Jews and Arabs met at the Meggido crossroads leading to Jenin in order to demonstrate against Israel’s atrocities and to bring water, food, medication, clothing, blankets and other humanitarian aid to the people of Jenin. Read more about In the shadow of Armageddon: Fear of food and poems 

It has always been assumed here that any political decision can be enforced militarily, since the gap between Israel and its enemies seemed infinite. But gone now is the superior “human material” Israel was said to rely on. Read more about Jenin: The military fiasco 

Brutalization. The situation is not getting better. Reservists say that they do not understand the goals of this operation. The diminished quality of the army, and the improved military capacity of the Palestinian fighters in the Jenin refugee camp, are having a direct impact on the Palestinian population. Read more about Jenin: The Palestinian masada