'Anabta, Deir Sharaf, Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), Mon 25.1.10, Afternoon

Date: 25/01/2010 ,Afternoon

Observers: Mika S. Ofra H. (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

Translation: Hanna K.

Za'tara/Tapuah

14:05 – The vehicles flow without being checked

14:10 – opposite the entrance to Beita there is a military jeep and a bus. The papers of the bus passengers are checked.

Huwwara

14:30 – 15:00 – When we arrived the police stopped us and Nadim got a traffic report (on 250 shekels) because M. who sat in the back-seat hadn't put the safety belt on. There was a note of vindictiveness and hatred in the policeman's activity during the entire process. The vehicle was stopped a minutes before we reached the CP parking lot. This is therefore the opportunity to ask all the women not to forget always to put on the safety belts, even in the backseat. The CP is again dug in part. The soldiers were very rude and wouldn't answer any question. Three vehicles were detained during all the time we stayed at the CP (half and hour) – two taxis and one bus. There was a queue of about 50 vehicles, and a quarter of an hour later the traffic flowed again. The policeman who stopped Nadim, stopped another vehicle coming from the entrance to Nablus. After a short clarification the driver, a young Palestinian man, was fettered at his legs and put into the police vehicle. He was allowed to talk on the portable phone and inform about his detention. We inquired and found out that he was detained and fettered because he drove without a licence.

Deir Sharaf/The Barrels CP

15:15 There is almost no checking and the traffic flows.

On the way from haraf to Anabta there is a preparation for an enormous memorial stone for a person murdered a month ago.