Noah

Noah’s fall.
We visited a man in the outskirts of Hebron who my teammate described as ‘having the luck of Lot’. His story begins like many; He and his family lived in a house on a hill, that was passed down through his family for over 100 years. For his livelihood, Noah raised sheep and never learned to read or write.
A demolition order is posted on his house and he ignores the notice, not knowing what it said. Not long after, his house and water cistern is destroyed by Israeli Military forces.
His family, now homeless, moves into the city while Noah stays to tend the sheep.


He sleeps outside the cave where the sheep are sheltered from predators- but not sheltered enough. Between poisonous plants for food, snakes and dogs he has lost almost all his sheep. The ones he does have left are sick from the few poisonous plants they have left to graze on. Water is scarce. Money to buy food, for himself or the sheep is non-existent. While Noah's family is staying with relatives, he sits under an almond tree watching his sheep die, with the wreckage of former stable life still in visible heaps up the hill where his home once stood.
It has been one year since his house was destroyed by Israel and the rubble still sits. Hill tops are often coveted sites in this region and Israeli settlement expansion is not far off.
While we visit with Noah, listening to his worries and offering a small amount of support, two of his sheep die.
The reason for this destruction and Noah's fall from a secure life for his family? I will repeat what my team mates have to keep reminding me; 'This is occupation, they don't have to have a reason'.