'Anabta, Deir Sharaf, Huwwara, Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim), Za'tara (Tapuah), Mon 30.11.09, Afternoon

Date: 30/11/2009 ,Afternoon

Observers: Maya G., Ziona S. (reporting)

Beit Furik

east of Nablus at junction of Route 557 (apartheid road forbidden to Palestinians, leading to Itamar and Elon Moreh), and Route 5487. Checkpoint has operated since 2001, seemingly serving residents of Beit Furik and Beit Dajan. In practice it only serves the residents of the settlements. One of the three permanent checkpoints that close off Nablus, together with Huwwara and Beit Iba.

Close description

Translator: Charles K.

14:00 The exits from Brukin and Kifl Haris are open.The exit to Route 505 from Zeita Jamma’in is blocked.

A huge line of 60 vehicles at the Za’tara junction, but as we arrived traffic began going through and the line shortened. Huwwara 14:40 –
We read in the newspapers that the Huwwara checkpoint had been opened. But today there’s no sign of this. A line whose end can’t be seen stretches from the direction of the exit from Nablus.
Vehicles advance slowly. A private car is detained, all the passengers standing outside. Two soldiers inspect the vehicle and take ID’s to be checked. Two more cars quickly join it. All the passengers wait. All three were still being detained when we left. A youth with a wooden cart begs to be let in. They won’t agree unless he puts the cart in a taxi, because people on foot aren’t allowed through. But it costs NIS 50, which he doesn’t have, so he waits.
Maybe the soldiers will be merciful, which doesn’t look likely, or a large vehicle will show up and take him.
That’s what easing restrictions looks like at the Huwwara checkpoint.
It’s true, vehicles enter freely, only from time to time an Israeli driver is asked to show a document. 15:00 Three military vehicles stand on Route 60, near Yitzhar. We assumed they were there because of the injunctions.
Burin appears quiet. The following day we heard that the settlers attacked it again. Deir Sharaf (barrels) checkpoint15:20 Heavy traffic flowing freely.

The booth and the tower at Anabta are deserted, an army jeep stands at the checkpoint but traffic flows freely. Irtah 15:40
Just a few people are swallowed quickly into the checkpoint. Nadim believes that there are fewer this holiday.