My first surprise was actually with… They weren't even youth, they were the little children of the Hill of the Fathers, and they were throwing stones at little kids passing beside them along the fence, on that main road where both Palestinians and Israelis travel to the Hill of the Fathers, and those who continue straight on there are actually the Palestinians who have this kind of checkpoint there. Two gates.

Leaving Kiryat Arba?At the Kiryat Arba Checkpoint there's this right-left turn, going right and immediately left and then there's an uphill section. I don't remember exactly what that road is called. Uphill there's a checkpoint from which they continue straight – there's also that grocery store there – and enter the Palestinian zone, and to the left through the yellow gate is the entry to the neighborhood called Hill of the Fathers. The children simply threw stones at the Palestinians and swore at them, if I remember right. It happened rather long ago but yes, I don't think I can ever forget it.

Who was throwing stones?Two or four children.

What ages?I think they were six to eight years old, perhaps ten.

Jewish children throwing stones at Arabs?Yes, Jewish children throwing stones at Arabs.

For what reason?Just so. I don't think they had a reason. Unfortunately, it's a kind of habit with them. That's how they're brought up. And then naturally the Arabs didn't hold back, so there was stone throwing and then swearing on both sides.

Did you do anything?I tried to tell them to leave, of course, I remember that. It was Saturday, noon, and I was standing guard at the entry gate, and I asked the children to leave.

The Arab children?No, the Jewish children. I told them: Stop it, just stop it. I don't remember whether they did or not.

And the Arab children?They threw a stone or two back at the Jewish kids, or perhaps they didn't even throw, I don't want to just say this because I don't really remember. I only remember the Jewish children throwing stones.

Is that officially considered disturbing the peace?Yes, but the truth is it wasn't serious. It was just this momentary harassment. Not something that would turn into a major riot. Just a tiny incident.

Did similar incidents develop to a greater extent? Into real riots?I don't think so. We were there only for a single weekend. No, no.

Why don't Arabs riot there?There was no one to riot there.

In the incident you describe, how old were the Arab kids?Same as the Jewish kids. Six to ten, little children.

Did they run away?No, they went on, with verbal exchanges, and that was that. I don't really remember very well. I don't want to say more, I don't remember.

How long were you alerted there?It was a weekend reinforcement mission.