'Anabta, Ar-Ras, Jubara (Kafriat), Qalqiliya, Tue 23.12.08, Morning
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Observers:
Shlomit S., Shoshi, Ruth C. (reporter) Translator: Orna B.
Dec-23-2008
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Morning
8:05- 8:20 Anabta
Flowing traffic. Occasionaly the soldiers decide to inspect more
thoroughly and immediately a queue forms. Near the time of our
departure, 20 vehicles are standing waiting to enter Tulkarm. A soldier
gestures to a cab to stand to one side until the end of the inspection.
Meanwhile everyone is waiting. At the exit there is a queue of 4 cars.
The inspection is at random, according to the soldiers' whim.
thoroughly and immediately a queue forms. Near the time of our
departure, 20 vehicles are standing waiting to enter Tulkarm. A soldier
gestures to a cab to stand to one side until the end of the inspection.
Meanwhile everyone is waiting. At the exit there is a queue of 4 cars.
The inspection is at random, according to the soldiers' whim.
8:30 - 9:30 Jubara and A-ras
The entrance gate to the village is shut as usual. And as if that
is not enough a manual barrier with an lifting arm has been added. When
the arm lifts , miraculously the light changes to green. But the gate
remains shut as usual. The soldiers are more polite than ever and ask
us to stand aside for a minute until they find out if we can go
through. A vehicle with a settler arrives. He roars at the soldier: "
Open up quickly!, They are not going to run away. Do you know what I
still have to do today!". In short our presence and the soldiers'
attitude towards us annoyed him. Luckily for us this time the soldiers
were the targets of his anger.
is not enough a manual barrier with an lifting arm has been added. When
the arm lifts , miraculously the light changes to green. But the gate
remains shut as usual. The soldiers are more polite than ever and ask
us to stand aside for a minute until they find out if we can go
through. A vehicle with a settler arrives. He roars at the soldier: "
Open up quickly!, They are not going to run away. Do you know what I
still have to do today!". In short our presence and the soldiers'
attitude towards us annoyed him. Luckily for us this time the soldiers
were the targets of his anger.
Shakia, the wife of Abu Khatm is very happy to see us. Lately we
hardly ever met because we were not allowed to enter the village.
Shakia is waiting for us with refreshments and with sad stories.
According to her 2 weeks ago on a Friday, on his way back from Tulkarm,
Abu Khatm had to wait about 7 hours at the checkpoint. The soldiers
refused to open the gate for him and demanded that he went around.
Since he had no money for a cab and in any case he cannot walk it he
waited for hours. They did not offer him a drink and he felt bad. I do
not know if the incident had been reported already but it seems
essential to talk to him each time one comes into the village, for the
bad feelings increase.
hardly ever met because we were not allowed to enter the village.
Shakia is waiting for us with refreshments and with sad stories.
According to her 2 weeks ago on a Friday, on his way back from Tulkarm,
Abu Khatm had to wait about 7 hours at the checkpoint. The soldiers
refused to open the gate for him and demanded that he went around.
Since he had no money for a cab and in any case he cannot walk it he
waited for hours. They did not offer him a drink and he felt bad. I do
not know if the incident had been reported already but it seems
essential to talk to him each time one comes into the village, for the
bad feelings increase.
A-ras
At the exit from Jubara again the soldiers are polite, But they do
not know the procedure and have to check whether or not to let us
through. They wonder what we are looking for in there. On the way back
we talk to the soldiers again. They themselves do not understand the
whole business of the checkpoints. But they adjust. In A-ras the
traffic flows. There are no inspections , only one soldier gestures
feebly to the cars to pass in a way they can hardly understand.
not know the procedure and have to check whether or not to let us
through. They wonder what we are looking for in there. On the way back
we talk to the soldiers again. They themselves do not understand the
whole business of the checkpoints. But they adjust. In A-ras the
traffic flows. There are no inspections , only one soldier gestures
feebly to the cars to pass in a way they can hardly understand.
10:00 - 10:10 Qalqiliya
Traffic is flowing at the entrance and at the exit from the town. Occasional random inspections.