Working for Justice: Saturday in Kafr Kaddum

Yesterday was my last day in the West Bank, and the last demonstration I went to. Along with an activist friend, we went to Kafr Kaddum.
Once again, the people were demonstrating against the take-over of their road by the Israeli Army. A smaller group of Palestinians walked up to where the road is and, like often happens, they set tires on fire. The purpose was to annoy the settlers, since the smoke wafts over to the settlements which lie on their land and because of whom they lost access to their road.
Often, this has been an invitation for the Israeli Army and/or Border Police to attack, such invitations are gladly accepted and the clashes start again (or, already being in progress, get more intense).
Today, for some reason, there was no response. Perhaps the military was tired. Perhaps there was a commander who didn't want to get his soldiers in another fight because of the settlers, whom many Israelis oppose also, in particular those who want peace. Perhaps there was some other reason.
Whatever the reason was, the military did not attack, and aside from three soldiers who were observing from the top of the hill, they did not even show themselves.

The tires were lit, and a few guys moved them up a bit down the road.

Still no reaction.

Then... the demonstration ended and everyone went home.

There was no attempt to march on the settlement.
Or to seek out Israeli soldiers and attack them- a group of youth approached the three soldiers on the hill, one of the kids waving a Palestinian flag. They yelled at the soldiers, but did not touch them. The soldiers looked at them, but did not fire.

In the end, everyone went home.