Slow passage

Translation: Bracha B.A.

06:00 – Reihan Checkpoint

The upper parking lot is filled with cars but there are only few people.  I was told that the checkpoint opened at 05:00 but that things were not running smoothly – the machine was working but the people were not.  Women coming towards me in the sleeve report that the terminal is crowded and people are delayed.   They demand that I "Tell them."  I wish I could.

At 06:15 there is a big crowd of people waiting in front of the entrance to the terminal like I have never seen before.  There is a lot of noise and commotion, but no one is coming out.  Soon people begin to come out, but not in an orderly manner – a group comes out and then there is a pause, then another group and a pause. 

06:30 – a woman is waiting for her friends who have not come out yet.  Eventually they come out.  Another group has gone in but only two of them come out.  At 06:40 all the women workers have usually come out by now, but today they are still coming out.  The men come out at a run since they are already very late for work. 

At 06:45 people stop coming out again and there is a commotion inside the terminal grows louder.  People who usually come out at 06:30 only got out at 07:05 today.  There are still people waiting at the entrance to the terminal to go inside. 

Translated Dvora K.

A cold rainy day.

Summary:

The person responsible for security in the settlement of Maskiyot continues to make trouble for the residents in the area, in collaboration with military units serving in the region. Last week there were two incidents in which he initiated the illegal arrest of shepherds for 4-5 hours, and soldiers actually carried it out. In both cases they did not call the police, and that's proof that there was no legal reason for the deed. After 'the punishment was applied in full', the shepherds were freed to go home.

We heard complaints about unnecessary delays at the Tyasir CP. We ourselves saw an eight-minute halt in which no vehicle could go through the CP; there was no apparent reason for this. This was after we had left the CP and stopped to observe from a distance.

Gochiya Gate again was not opened until 15:45.

Tapuach Junction–11.25

There are no inspections. Near the guard tower that overlooks the road before Ossrin, a military vehicle is parked

Kussara

We met a man who told us that the Palestinian police are pursuing him, claiming that he is a collaborator [with Israel]. He was arrested several times and has spent time in jail. That is why he is having a hard time earning a livelihood for his family. His brother was killed by the Palestinian Authorities because he too was accused of collaboration. At the entrance to Kussara there is a  second hand goods store, for which the name 'second hand' is too grand. The items for sale are terribly ragged things that somebody has brought from the flee market in Jaffe and sells here.

Ma'aleh Efraim – 12.10:

There is no inspection. A military vehicle is parked near the CP. We did not see any inspections on our way back either.

Hamra CP – 12.30

A white Brinks van is parked near the CP and bars the left lane. When we returned it was still parked there in the same place. While we stayed there was a steady stream of people and cars in the usual speed. The passengers get out of the cars which come from the west, go through the pedestrian CP and wait for their vehicles in the cold rain for several minutes. Every time they refurbished the CP, no one has thoughtto have consideration for the thousands of people who go through the CP daily, whether they wish to or not, and must wait in the cold and in the rain in winter, and in the terrible heat of the summer.

The vehicles that come from the east, from the direction of area A, are not inspected.

In the encampment opposite Maskiyot: three weeks ago we talked with a shepherd who's been arrested illegally by R., the security person from Maskiyot, who was helped by a group of soldiers who actually carried out the arrest. This was done with the excuse that he'd come too close to the settlement fence with his herd. The shepherd was held in the CP for three hours, and then released.

Last Friday, he was arrested again. In the middle of the day he was taken from his herd which was left without anybody to watch it, for four hours.

In another encampment we were told about another case of a shepherd taken to the Tyasir CP – again on the initiative of R., who called on the army to make the arrest. The shepherd phoned N. from the Association for Human Rights. She arrived at the Tyasir CP but he was taken to the Hamra CP with the claim that he doesn't have an ID card and was kept there for five hoursa lltogether. In the end, he was released and no complaint was submitted to the police.

The same woman from the Association for Human Rights is calling a meeting of the Bedouin who live in the area in order to explain to them what their rights are and how they can fight for them. We appealed to the organization 'Yesh Din' ['There is Law'] after we received the agreement of the people involved to put in a complaint.

Tyasir CP – 13:50

When we arrived at the CP it was empty of cars. During the time we were there a few cars went through at the usual speed.

14:20– Three cars have already been waiting for five minutes and not a single one goes through. Only after an unexplained pause of eight minutes did the traffic begin to move.

Before this the residents of the encampments, who have to go through the CP regularly, told us that there are long delays to get to the urban center of Tubas . Somebody told us that yesterday at 10:00, not a rush hour for traffic, he's waited at the CP for about an hour, on a tractor open to the wind and the cold.

Guchiya Gate – 15:10

The gate is closed. We rang Zaharan at the Jericho DCO every ten minutes. He spoke with the person responsible for sending the soldiers to open the gate. They told him that the soldiers had been sent there, but none arrived. Those who needed to go through the gate did not get there either, because they knew it would not be opened.

Translator: Hanna K

Following the rain and the cold, the almond trees are already blooming and they do not hide the election posters of Feiglin.

06:30 Azzun Atma: The overpopulated queue reaches "only" the edge of the fenced-in zone. The workmen complain that they had to wait for a long time in the queue. Some of them left the Hebronarea at dawn and came to work in the juncture area. Others told us that they were detained for a long time at the entrance to the village, and only the intervention of a high-rank officer who arrived on the spot urged the soldiers on. Did anybody get an explanation why it is necessary to check with such meticulousness at the entrance to the village? How does this protect Israel's security?

06:40 A lively traffic of pedestrians on the road leading to the agricultural gate.

06:42 Shomron crossing:There is no police at the exit from Israel.

06:55 Za'tara/Tapuah: there are no soldiers at the checking posts

Yitzhar/Burin CPs:  There is no military activity.

07:30 Beit Furik: At the entrance to the village there is no flying CP.  At the "permanent" Beit Furik CP too there is no military activity.

Awarta: The yellow arm still prevents the passage.

07:40 at the Huwwara CPwe didn't see any soldiers. We tried to inquire whether there were soldiers on the tower - we didn't hear a generator and only the emergency lighting is on. The soldier standing on the road to Beraha settlement said that he assumed that there were soldiers there. We didn't see any soldier at the post opposite the hitch hikers' station.

Burin/Yitzhar: A military vehicles at the bay coming down from Yitzhar causes a delay in the traffic. It is a kind of flying CP.

08:00Za'tara /Tapuah: There are no soldiers at the post.

At the Shomron crossing  the checking is as usual superficial.

We drove in Hanna's car.

13:45

Habla – the gate was open. The children's bus arrives and undergoes a thorough inspection by two soldiers.

At 14:02, even before they could shut the two gates, a Palestinian vehicle arrives but it's too late, two minutes have gone by, and he is forced to return and to wait for the evening.

We noticed that cameras had been installed and that the signpost which indicates the opening hours had been removed and in its stead there is a red signpost "military zone, whoever passes or damages the fence endangers himself". 

14:30

Huwwara – the CP was empty.

We entered the vegetable shop at Huwwara and they told us that today, from 09:00 a.m. the soldiers have closed the main street at Huwwara, made vehicles return and ordered them to drive through an alternative road. The street was opened for traffic at 15:30 only. They told us that Huwwara CP was also closed and people were made to go back. They were forced to drive through Awwarta and Beit Furiq.

16:10 – Azoun Atma –

A long queue winds along, the workmen complain that what hurts them is that they are treated like animals. One of them, an elderly man even said "they don't know that the wall of Berlin has fallen, by what right they close us in walls, a day will come…"

From the moment we arrive the checking became quicker and they began passing three workmen together. They complain that the big problem is in the early morning hours.

We were surprised to see workmen passing by a side road and when we asked they said that they are called zero zero. These are workmen who work on 24 hour shifts and they have special authorizations.

Translator:  Charles K.

09:30  Shomron crossing – The checkpoint is empty.

09:45  Salfit – Two soldiers at the checkpoint, which is empty.

10:00  Za’tara/Tapuach junction – A jeep in the parking lot but no police officers or soldiers at the checkpoint.

10:15  Ma’aleh Efrayim – Three soldiers at the checkpoint, which is unusual.

10:50  Hamra – Four soldiers at the checkpoint.  Inspection is quick.  A man told us that the head of security for Beqa’ot, Danny Ashkenazi, constantly harasses them (the Palestinians) at work.

11:20  Tayasir – Six cars waiting for their passengers.  The drivers say they’ve been waiting more than half an hour.  It’s unusual, so many cars waiting here on a Saturday.

We met many people waiting and asked them whether the checkpoint ever allows people to remain in their cars and simply show their documents to go through rather than having to get out and be inspected individually.

Again they say that it all depends on the soldiers– some treat them well and let them through quickly, others are “bad,” purposely taking their time.

Sometimes people are held up for an hour and a half, particularly those coming from Tubas to the Jordan Valley.

11:40 – All the cars that were waiting have driven off with their passengers.

12:30 – Hamra – A long line of cars coming from Tubas.  A command-car and six soldiers at the checkpoint.

13:00  Ma’aleh Efrayim – The soldiers who were here this morning have disappeared; the checkpoint is empty.  There’s at least one soldier in the tower.

13:10  Za’tara/Tapuach junction – No soldiers at the checkpoint.

13:45  Huwwara – No soldiers at the checkpoint.

13:55  Flying checkpoint at the entrance to Sara, with soldiers.  Six cars wait to enter Sara.

14:05  A jeep arrives, apparently orders them to pack up.  They packed up and left.  Crossing is unimpeded.

14:20  Eliyahu crossing – A long line of cars in every entry lane to Israel.

Translator:  Charles K.

The usual line at Azzun Atma – about 150 Palestinian laborers returning home forced to wait hours by the side of a heavily-trafficked road, with no shelter over their heads, whatever the weather.

14:00 

Habla checkpoint - Vehicles and people on foot manage to go through after being inspected, just before the gate closes.

14:20  Eliyahu crossing – A Hanukkah menorah at the entrance to the checkpoint with holiday greetings from the Shomron regional council.  We later see the same thing next to the Palestinian house outside the fence at Azzun Atma.

14:27  Entrance to Azzun village (Highway 55) – Four armed soldiers stand at the entrance gate.

14:45  Jit junction – We didn’t see a parked military vehicle.

At the turn to Highway 60 (toward Huwwara) – installation of nighttime lighting stretching for kilometers is nearing completion, for the settlers of Havat Gil’ad.

14:50  Huwwara checkpoint – A soldier in the guard tower next to the inspection booths.  A soldier guards the hitchhiking station at the entrance to the Bracha settlement.

14:55  Awarta checkpoint – The yellow iron bar is closed as usual – no access to

Nablusfrom here. 

Large military bulldozers working energetically at the northern entrance to Awarta, creating long, high

earthen berms.

Back to Highway 60 – heavy traffic between Nablusand Ramallah.

15:40  Za’tara checkpoint – Two soldiers at the inspection station.  They’re not inspecting.

15:50  Ariel industrial zone –Very large hangers under construction to the north as well as to the south.

16:00  Azzun Atma checkpoint – About 150 Palestinian laborers returning home after a day of work stand in a very long line waiting to be inspected under a canopy sheltering the soldiers (most of whom today wear yarmulkes and earlocks.  One speaks in English – a new immigrant).

The laborers are used to the occupation’s tricks – one day there’s no line, the next day there is.

We contact the humanitarian office so they’ll speed up the crossing – “We’re taking care of it,” they respond; “I’ll do the best I can” [Noga], but it doesn’t appear that anything will really help.

.

Translator:  Charles K.

About two weeks ago a deep ditch was dug from the Hamra checkpoint to the Gochia checkpoint, a distance of a few dozen meters, west of the Alon Road, along the route that was flatter before the ditch was dug.  The ditch is more than 4 meters deep, too narrow for a vehicle to pass.  They placed boulders where they were unable to dig.  It’s impossible to cross north of the checkpoint because of the topography (cf. photo in the report).  The result of these obstacles is that the Gochia checkpoint, which is open only three times a week for half an hour in the morning and in the afternoon is the only way for anyone living east of the road to access the area to its west.  In recent months, the Gochia checkpoint has almost never been open.  Up to now it has been barely possible to get around the ditch, and you risked punishment.  Now that’s no longer possible at all.

Despite the new, deep ditch, the Gochia checkpoint remains closed all the time.  At the hour it was scheduled to open a tractor pulling a wagon full of hay was waiting, and only after an hour and a half, during which we telephoned the DCO every ten minutes, did it open.  The driver and five small children waited two hours waited for the checkpoint to open, until 5 PM, and the checkpoint remained closed.  It’s unclear why the army invested so much effort and money to dig the ditch just to prevent a handful of Bedouin from reaching their encampments in the area or the town of Tamun west of the road, and doesn’t even bother to open the checkpoint even for the limited amount of time that was promised.  Malice?  Or obtuseness?  Aren’t people involved here?

Za’tara checkpoint (Tapuach junction) – 11:40
Vehicles coming from the direction of Huwwara are being inspected.  Five cars on line.  Two military jeeps at the checkpoint, but no Palestinian cars have been detained.  There’s a soldier in the observation tower at the junction.

Ma’aleh Efrayim checkpoint – 11:55 – Soldiers are present.  No cars.  As usual, young settlers wait for rides in the soldiers’ booth.

Gitit settlement – We can see that the agricultural area has been expanded.  New sown fields south of the built-up area.  New poultry houses have been built recently.

Hamra checkpoint – 12:15
Three cars wait for people coming through the checkpoint on foot.  They arrive pretty quickly, holding their belts in their hands.  A contractor who goes through every day says that it hasn’t been bad recently.

Vehicles travelling west, to Area A, aren’t inspected, but stop and wait to be waved through.  A new yellow sign was recently erected in front of the checkpoint, announcing that ambulances don’t have to wait on line.

Maskiyot settlement – A new fence has been erected around the settlement, and they took advantage of the opportunity to double its area northward.  Until a year or two ago, there was a pre-military program for religious youth here, with a few buildings to house students, staff and their families.  After the withdrawal from Gush Katif, a number of families arrived who’d been evacuated from one of the localities there.  They built them the villas on the ridge.  The new fence may signify an intention to expand the settlement.

When we visited the Bedouin tents on the other side of the road (where the blue tent belonging to young people from Maskiyot once stood), we were told that three days ago settlers from Maskiyot, along with the head of the settlement’s security who is notorious among the Bedouin, fell upon the women.  They chased away their flock, searched the tents (looking for what?) and then left.  The residents of Maskiyot frequently abuse the neighboring Bedouin, and no one stops them.

We met a mobile clinic on the road to the Tayasir checkpoint – an ambulance with a physician and nurses.  They come from Tubas, where there’s a medical center, and visit the Bedouin encampments twice a week.  Later we saw them at one of the encampments, the ambulance parked on the road, a number of woman and children waiting to be treated.

The ambulance driver complained that they’re delayed an hour or more at the Tayasir checkpoint while the medical staff and ambulance undergo a lengthy inspection.  When we were at the checkpoint we saw them going through quickly toward Tubas.  Was it because we were there?  Or because they were headed to Area A?  Inspections of people going in that direction are faster anyway.

Tayasir checkpoint – 13:20 – 14:30
The checkpoint was empty during most of the first half hour.
We remained in the car to eat lunch.  The commander and another soldier approached us (curiosity), asking whether we need help.  Then the shift changed and when we later went over to the pedestrian checkpoint the new commander (who seemed also to be new to the area) approached, announcing that it’s a closed military area, etc., etc.  Finally we compromised, and remained halfway up the hill. 

As usual at the checkpoint, vehicles are inspected only from one direction at a time, so lines form from the other direction.

14:15 – Fifteen minutes passed before any vehicle on line from the east was called up, and then they started going through quickly.  The taxi drivers collect the ID cards ahead of time, which makes the inspection go faster.  The line of five cars was gone in five minutes.

A closed truck, also on its way to Area A (under Palestinian control), is carefully inspected.  They remove the canvas cover, a soldier climbs up to inspect.  It was carrying empty plastic containers for agricultural produce.

14:25 – A car coming from the west is detained.  The driver argues.  It turns out that he moved forward for inspection without having been signaled to do so.  Then his vehicle is carefully inspected.  He didn’t receive any additional punishment, perhaps because we were watching?

15:05  Gochia checkpoint
Cf. the main points, above.  We telephoned Zaharan, the DCO crossings officer, every ten minutes.  He contacted his representative at brigade headquarters; they tried to find out what was happening, made repeated requests, and each time were promised that someone was on the way to open the gate, but no one came.  We kept nagging.  We had to leave at 16:15 because of commitments.  We gave the tractor driver Zaharan’s phone numbers, and ours, and took his.  That’s how we found out that the gate finally opened at 16:30. 

Ma’aleh Efrayim checkpoint – 16:35
Soldiers are present.  The checkpoint is empty.