Soldiers rotate every three months or so in the 20% of Hebron still under
Israeli military occupation. The soldiers here now are the paratroopers, a
highly trained brigade.

Our daily conversations with soldiers illustrate some of the dynamics of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Soldier: "This [checkpoint island] is military land."
CPTer: "But US tax dollars paid to renovate this street for use by Israelis
and Palestinians."
Soldier: "But now it's ours."

Soldier (after CPTer had explained the teams work in Hebron): "If everyone in
the world was doing what you are doing, we would have peace."
CPTer "You soldiers are not treating the Palestinians well. What happens if
the tables turn? Do you want to be treated this way?"
Soldier: "Israel will never fall again; we will never again be on
the bottom."

Soldier: "I don't want to be here; I don't want to be in Lebanon.
Just because of a few crazies I've got to be here [in Hebron]. You guys are
where it's at. You're trying to make peace."
CPTer: "Thanks, man!"
Soldier: "How long have you been here?"
CPTer: "I've been here 3 months and I hope to be here for 2 more."
Soldier: "I hope everything goes well with you. You know, before I came here
I didn't know what to think about the Arabs. But now that I'm here I think
they're pretty nice people."

Soldiers had stopped a taxi with 5 Palestinians and were searching the inside
and the trunk.
CPTer: "Why did you stop this taxi?"
Soldier: "Because the man wasn't wearing a seat belt."
CPTer: "Oh, so you're concerned about the Palestinians' safety?"
Soldier: "Yes. I could have given him a ticket but this time I just gave him
a warning so next time he'll wear his seat belt."

Soldier: "Do you have a problem?" (addressed to CPTer watching him check IDs
of students walking to school.)
CPTer: "Thanks for your concern."
Soldier: "Stop interfering with our work."
CPTer: "I'm just watching. Is this illegal? Why are you checking their
IDs?"
Soldier: "They have to know who's in charge. You have to make them afraid."
CPTer: "Why are you holding this guy? He's been here over 20 minutes."
Soldier: "We saw him throw a stone three days ago. You must make them afraid
so that they will not throw stones."
CPTer: "Do you think that checking their IDs will make them afraid? I think
it will make them more angry. If it were me it would just make me more
angry. How would you feel if your ID was checked? Would you become afraid or
angry?"
Soldier: "I wouldn't be afraid!"