Passage Restrictions

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.

Translation: Ruth Fleishman

We were last in line, waiting for the turnstiles to open so that we could pass into the inner inspection area. Neither we nor the people before us had noticed that the soldiers' post had been abandoned and the revolving mechanism was disconnected. Only one child who had passed through the gate before his mother had, stood on the other side, all alone, there was no going forward or backward. The child was entrapped.
During the first moments the child smiled with embarrassment, and then the smile was replaced by a worried gaze. He brought his body closer to his mother who was standing on the other side of the metal bars, took her hand and grabbed it tightly like a life preserving anchor.
The Palestinians, who are used to the arbitrariness by which the place is run, moved to the parallel inspection lane with acceptance. We stayed with the mother, cetin that within a minute or two the problem would be resolved. After all everything that happens in the checkpoint is filmed and broadcasted live to the plasma screens of those who run the site.
We were wrong.

The tears that started streaming down the cheeks of the child caused us to hurry and make some calls. We thought that as soon as we inform the hot lines the child would be released.
We were wrong again.

They all gave us the same answer: "I'm making inquiries".
We called again: "I'm making inquiries".
After twenty minutes, after having promised the mother and her son that "any moment now…"- "they will just look at their camera and someone will come and press the button…", "But I've only now explained to them, they are making inquiries and it will all be alright…", we understood that there was no telling how long the child will remain entrapped and detached from his mother, and Roni went to the parallel lane to request the help of the soldier sitting there, while I stayed with the mother and kept trying to talk to the people at the hot lines who over and over again could understand and connected me with the officer in charge, who also didn't understand and we ended up having an incomprehensive dialog.
-    The officer: "what is the name of his mother?"
-    Me: "I don't know"
-    The officer: "how will I identify him?"
-    Me: "He has two legs… why do you need to identify him?- just let go!!"
-    The officer: "wait, I don't understand, explain again, is he in the red zone?- where does he want to go to?"

Nearly thirty minutes later a solider from the offices was sent to press the releasing button. But before pressing he insisted on explaining that actually: "the child is to blame. He shouldn't have passed to the other side on his own". Not only was it the victims fault, but it was possible to prolong his suffering and put forth the occupier's narrative.

No one believes the Palestinians. That's why they are always equipped with a bundle of documents that prove their disabilities, their situation and their very existence.
Such was the 71 year old person from Jerusalem, a disabled and sick man who has difficulty walking and waiting in the cramped lines of Qalandiya only makes it harder for him.
The man presented before us his disability certificate, as proof of his bad health and told us how he is mistreated at the passage for residents of Jerusalem, where in spite regulations that allow the disabled elderly and pregnant women to remain seated in the bus, he is force to come down, walk to the pedestrians' checkpoint, stand in line, pass the turnstiles and be inspected (again) by the soldier.
"Write down what I'm telling you. Write it down"- he asked.

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Shaked-Tura Checkpoint, 07:30
We overslept and arrived later than usual. A group of people were waiting, apparently for more workers to come, and then were making their way towards Dar-al-Malach. The children have not yet crossed and we were told there was no school that day, because it was Christmas.
 

Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint 08:00
The checkpoint is filled with landscaping and has trees growing around it. The lower parking lot is almost full. People who work in Barta'a are crossing without any delay. We only encountered one problem, which we could not understand, but received information from our friend Ilana H. who speaks Arabic and has translated and published the event in the literary section of Ha'aretz last Saturday.

A seamstress coming from Jenin to Barta'a had a magnetic card that was still valid, but she was sent back three times at the checkpoint and was not allowed to go to work. We managed to understand that the problem was a bandaged finger and all we managed to convey to her was to go to the Liaison and Coordination Administration at Salem to clarify what the problem was. We hoped she understood us. Meanwhile we checked to see how long it took several other people to cross from the lower to the upper entrance to the terminal. It took about 7 minutes. About six or seven trucks were waiting for the first stage of vehicle inspection. They were evidently the second batch to go inside. We saw no sign that there were any trucks inside the building with the two gray domes, but that is because what goes on inside there is confidential.

Translated by Jenny L.

Today we also entered via the Meitar Crossing checkpoint with the intention of getting an impression of the story of uprooted olive trees. We stopped at the side of the road below the illegal outpost Eshtamo'a and crossed the road to get a look albeit from a distance at the orchard, part of which had been uprooted. Hardly a moment passed and from the outpost above 7 or 8 of the inhabitants already came running down, looking in our direction, with one of them making waving signs clearly implying that we should get away; get lost. At the same time, a soldier speedily ran onto the scene and when he reached the edge of the mountain aimed his weapon at us. We spontaneously all made our way back to our car so as not to further escalate the situation. We continued in the direction of Hebron, and on the way stopped at the entrance to Ngohot to talk to a group of soldiers with a jeep. We reported the incident to the officer and he promised to look into it.

Next to the southern entrance to Hebron, (which is blocked by boulders), the Israel Road Authority is carrying out roadworks.

Hebron

A group of young tourists with a local guide met us at Abed's place. They are from France, Brazil and Canada and plan tomorrow to be in Bethlehem for Christmas. We're all invited up to Abed's house to talk to the guests, accompanied by a "Maklouba" feast. The show interest and we try to explain.

The plaza near the Patriachs' Cave is busier than ever, what with it being both Channukah and almost Christmas Eve, with many tourists about...

A very short visit with Azam, then we again turn south.

We travel to the Metsudat Yehuda crossing, which is near to Beit Yatir, in order to see the children who cross over from school to their homes over the border, on the Israeli side (the Abu-Gavita family), but we missed them. Nevertheless it was important for us to talk to the shift manageress at the crossing, who openly explained: "We've several times requested that they stop checking the children (in total, some 15) who cross there on a daily basis. So far the orders are to continue checking them." According to her - if we want to - we can apply to "Ramim" [Acronym for "Land Crossings Authority", subject to the Ministry of Defense].

We returned to Israel via the Meitar Crossing, and again we enjoyed the easy, positive approach that is so different to that at the Tarqumiya checkpoint.

"Happy" holidays.

Translator:  Charles K.

In the midst of the disturbing silence we again examined the path between the apartheid stairs to the Cordova School to the neighborhood of the Tel Rumeida settlers, where a sign is posted restricting its use to Jews.

The soldiers are quiet today.

Suddenly a settler appears, coming down the road.  He pastes a poster on the decorated concrete wall which attempts to hide Hebron, the lively city at the foot of the hill. The poster recounts the injustice committed by the government against the settlers by limiting the Jewish settlement in the Hebron, compared to the excessive rights granted to the Palestinians. The soldier watching him talks on the phone about what the settler is doing.  In response to my question, the soldier says he’s obligated to report any such activity no matter who does it, and he’s checking to see whether the man is entitled to paste up the poster.  We learned something.

The unfortunate Cossack pastes up a second poster, this time on Shuhada Street, not far from Gross Square.  It explains why the adjoining shop had been closed.  We kept our eye on this energetic man.  He’d already reached the Cave of the Patriarchs and was preparing to paste up another poster containing the settlers’ pearls of wisdom.  To our surprise, Border Police soldiers prohibit him from doing so.  The order “came down,” arriving after he’d pasted the two previous posters.

We met Yehuda Shaul, from “Breaking the Silence,” who had come to show some VIP around.  We suggested he go look at the new posters.

The poor settlers have to convince people that their actions are justified.  They seem to feel they’re now really under attack.

A cup of tea with ‘Abed revives us somewhat and we leave this city.

We returned via Highway 317 and reached the Metzudat Yehuda checkpoint.  Merchandise crosses here, a few Jews and some Palestinian families living near Beit Yatir.  We waited in vain for the pupils.  Today, as it happened, they finish very late, and we can’t wait.  But once again we were exposed to the settlers’ behavior:  “Who are you?  What are you doing here?,” asks a settler passing by who stops next to us.  “Why should we answer you?”  “I wanted to invite you for coffee.”  How nice; really, really sweet!  He waves goodbye and drives on.  Who among us would dare ask a passer-by at the entrance to our town what he’s up to?!  The lords of the land are convinced it’s their right and their duty.

Meanwhile, cars go by.  The Jews are stopped, greeted and then drive on.

A Palestinian family arrives; since it’s one of the few permitted to cross into Israel, they’re certainly known to the soldiers.  They’re asked for ID cards, and their vehicle is inspected.

Translator:  Charles K.

How the presence of the army is legitimized and imbued with meaning

Nobody is waiting at the Meitar checkpoint.  All the laborers are already on the Israeli side.  We again note that those manning this checkpoint behave appropriately.

Route 60

A military vehicle stands at the entrance to Dahariyya.  Soldiers are inside; they don’t get out, but they’re there, right next to the sign notifying that you’re entering Area A, making their presence known.  We photograph them; one responds with a rude gesture.

The road is full of cars and pupils at this hour of the morning.

Reservists at the Dura-Elfawwar junction; they’ve come down from the pillbox, stand around. “Area A” newly inscribed in sloppy handwriting on the concrete barrier, one soldier standing on guard next to it, two others stopping cars coming from Elfawwar on their way to Dura and then on to their territory, Area A, to Hebron. That’s their daily routine – why interfere with it?  Why come in to upset daily life?  How else could the reservists feel they’re doing something important?  How else could they tell themselves and their families that this waste of time and money has some meaning, some justification?  So they stand on the road in the morning, conducting searches.  “When will you dismantle the checkpoint?” we ask.  “At eight,” they reply.  More proof that it’s only to give them something to do:  If there had been a real reason for the checkpoint, they wouldn’t have already known when it would come down.  Wouldn’t they remain until the problem had been solved?  But there’s a schedule:  From 7 to 8:  a flying checkpoint.  Breakfast is at 8, so they have to leave.  Meanwhile:  we’re in charge here.

The same occurs at the Pharmacy checkpoint, though the soldiers there are from the Lavie battalion. They’re stopping cars at the outskirts of the southern entrance to Hebron. Only Palestinians are allowed to use this road.

“Don’t talk to them,” one soldier says to the others.  We hear them explain about Ella, a friend of theirs who appeared on the “Big Brother” program [on Israeli TV].

Hebron

Two guards stand at the concrete barrier at the entrance to Kiryat Arba, next to the hitchhiking station.

“Mitzpeh Avichai” keeps expanding on the hill to our right.  Solar heaters, cars, etc.  It doesn’t seem that anyone thinks it’s illegal.

In the city, many children on their way to school. Paratroopers guard the Worshippers’ route. Paratroopers are also at Curve 160 today, rather than Border Police. Border Police man the other checkpoints to the Cave of the Patriarchs.  We drove to the Tarpa”t checkpoint, hoping they’re allowing teachers from the Cordova school to go through the gate. No, it’s locked. The locals tell us that a few days ago a girl was found with a knife that she’d carried intentionally. She was happy to be arrested. It’s what she desired, because she didn’t want her father to force her to marry someone she didn’t want.

We’re told about another guy who was arrested for touching a soldier when he asked him not to be rude to a girl he was searching. “But,” he added, “there are also good soldiers, who are kind and embarrassed.”  Hagit “dares” to rip down a sign reading “Kahana was right.” A young soldier starts yelling at her: “Rip down your own signs. The settlers have a right to put up whatever they want!  You’re not allowed to remove it.” He seems very jumpy. His commander calms him down, asks Hagit to move back a little. From the side it appears he is strongly motivated to detain Palestinians. His companions say they’re acquainted with the detainees and he lets them go. It’s still quiet at the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Everything’s as usual at Beit HaMeriva.  Soldiers on site, but someone made a path between the concrete barriers so residents of the neighborhood could take a route which should never have been blocked.

We left the city with a sigh of relief, as always. Nothing special happened today.

Southern Hebron Hills

We drove home via Highway 317 to see whether there’s anything new on “Antenna Hill,” not far from Zif junction. 

In fact, this is “Mitzpor Ziv,” established in memory of two employees of the Israel Electric Company who were killed there in 2003.

Now an Israeli flag flies there. Locals tell us that people have begun to come pray there. One day they placed a trailer or something like it, but it was demolished. There are signs of some kind of construction.  We should keep track of what’s happening.

Translation: Bracha B.A.

It is 06:00 and Aánin checkpoint is open. People claim that yesterday the checkpoint opened at 06:00 instead of 05:00. On the other hand, yesterday the gate opened at 17:00 rather than 15:00 - the hour when people return from work. Why the delay? People want to get home from work! The god of the occupation knows…

The crossing is going smoothly but we can’t see the people waiting at the slope leading down to the checkpoint. We wanted to get closer but were told we were not allowed. We were told that about 70 people were waiting.

One person was held up and was told that he could not enter despite the fact that he had a permit. Why? Because the soldier who was checking saw him in Um Al Fahem. But he has a permit!  He was forced to go back. Evidently every soldier is king and the man was not allowed to return home by way of this checkpoint. 

At Reihan and Shaked checkpointstraffic and crossing were going smoothly, but the occupation continues in its usual manner. A Palestinian whose land has been divided by the fence at the settlement or Reihan has not been able to work his land since 2004, and all his attempts to reach his land have been in vain. He has a Jordanian certificate of land ownership and he is unable to get to his land to cultivate his olives. He recently saw a tractor on his land, uprooting olive trees.  We referred him to several people who could help. He has already tried several places. 

Another person has been denied entry to work in Israel despite the fact that his Israeli employer requested him. Apparently was denied entry because several members of his family have been arrested in the past. The absurd thing is that they have already been released from prison and have received work permits in Israel, while he is still denied entry despite the fact that he is innocent. It's like talking to the wall. 

We met a man with a new car – or rather a used car that he bought one year ago but he cannot take it across the Shaked checkpoint with the new license.  He has already attempted to straighten the matter out at Salem and Ramallah where licenses are issued. He was told to come back every time. He finally went to court and was issued a license allowing him to cross at Shaked, but he is still at the mercy of the soldiers at the checkpoint.