"Peace broke out today in the middle east. Palestinian factions surrounded
Israeli guards and tanks all along the west bank, filled checkpoints and
have shut down all border operations. IDF forces have not yet given an
estimate for when checkpoints will begin operations."

Sara looked up from her textbook and looked at the radio, trying to see
which station the needle was pointing to. She shrugged and waited a moment,
listening to see if they gave a list of checkpoints that would be closed
longest, then tried to immerse herself back into seventeenth century
European history and sighed.

"No shots have been fired. IDF forces closed the checkpoints preemptively,
as protesters gathered in the areas outside the security zone. The
protesters were notably silent, blocking the checkpoints from reopening
should the IDF release them, but not making any demands."

Sara looked up again. Peaceful protesters weren't the usual way things
happened there. I wonder what changed since I was there, she thought. She
tried to picture what the seasons looked like there. Not quite time for
olive harvest, there would be crops growing, but nothing that would be
sabotaged by a closure of checkpoints for a few days. She nodded a bit to
herself, appreciating the timing.

"Israeli officials and Palestinian leaders are reported to be talking. No
demands have been made on either side at this point.