Beit Furik

Nablus checkpoints)

06:30  'Azzun 'Atma – a very long line of about 70-80 people, maybe even more.  Many others have already crossed and wait at the checkpoint for their rides.  Two inspection booths, and two MP’s outside of the inspection booths inspect both people and their belongings.  But it still takes as long to cross as it did other times we observed – that is, it took a particular person we observed more than an hour to get through.  It’s not raining now, but everything is wet.  I can’t imagine what it’s like to wait an hour or more in the rain to cross.  There’s an awning off to the side, but that doesn’t solve the problem of the line, because there’s no way to stand under the awning and still keep your place on line.  It’s absolutely terrible.  A person is inspected, the solder asks him to remove his jacket, it’s cold.  He’s annoyed, and does so objecting loudly.  And then he turns to us – And what are you doing about it?  You’re no help.  And he’s right – what can we do other than document what’s happening.  How sad.

07:00  The line is becoming a little shorter.  Children crossing to school from the Israeli side have their belongings checked – how come?  Will they bring explosives to the West Bank? 

Some people are sent to sit off to the side while their documents are inspected further.  One said that he always goes through, but since yesterday there’s a red line next to his name so he has to wait longer, and then go through.  What changed since the day before yesterday, that now his name comes up?  Twenty minutes later he went through.

We met a group of laborers who arrive each morning from Bethlehem – what a nightmare, but at least there’s work, so they make the effort.

We took our guests to see Hani’s house – it’s terrible what they did just to benefit a few settlers.

08:10  Bruqin – We saw the mosque whose entrance had been set on fire, as well as the tractor whose driver’s cab was burned completely. The locals shake their heads – why can’t people live together in peace – why, indeed?

08:40  Soldier is at the entrance to Salfit, at the turn to Ariel.  They’re not allowed to let anyone through except Palestinian buses and taxis – we can’t enter.

08:50 We continue to Tapuah/Za’tara.  I’m surprised there are no soldiers inspecting, just someone in the pillbox.

09:10  Huwwara – No soldiers, other than those in the pillbox, who say we’re forbidden to photograph.  But that’s not true, so we continue to take pictures.

09:30  Beit Furik – Deserted, not a living soul, and very few cars going through.

We stopped for falafel in Huwwara – our poor companions were starving.  They’re not used to leaving home at 05:30.

Now the surprise of the day – we reach Tapuach, two soldiers are inspecting cars at the crossing and others erect a concertina barrier on the sidewalk separating the road from the parking lot.  We entered the parking lot to watch.  About ten minutes later the soldiers inspecting cars left the road and returned to the parking lot.  The inspection was very quick – one or two questions, and the car drives away.  The soldiers then came over to talk to us; after we introduced ourselves we asked what they were doing.  You won’t believe it – tonight people will be going to Joseph’s Tomb so they’re fencing off the parking lot.  They promised that tomorrow the barrier will be removed.  And the inspection?  Oh, that was just a flying checkpoint that’s over. 

Translator: Hanna K.

No miracle happened to us, but we did find a jar with oil.

 06:35 Azuun Atma: The queue is shorter than usual. Very many workmen wait on the other side of the road for transportation to work. The CP commander, a reservist, takes care to remove us beyond the CP area. The man seems to be somebody who invests a lot in his job. He directs the waiting people to the checking posts and to another soldier who registers the people who wish to go out. The CP is bordered by fences and plastic obstacles which channel the Palestinians to leave in one direction only. According to him he sees to is that in the afternoon too the queue advances quickly.

We asked one of the people who were waiting to go out and he confirmed that this morning the waiting time was short and yesterday evening too less terrible than usual. It therefore seems that if one wishes one can do that without infringing on the Security of the Fatherland.

06:50 At the Shomron crossing there is no Blue Police at the exit from Israel. A big yellow signpost warns the drivers not to bring their vehicles for repairs at Palestinian garages.

The entrances to Marda and Zeita are open.

Za'tara/Tapuah: There are no soldiers at the checking posts. There is heavy traffic up the hill.

Yitzhar/Burin CPs: There is no military activity.

07:10 Beit Furik:At the entrance to the village there is no flying checkpoint. At the regular Beit Furik CP too there is no military activity.

Awarta: The yellow arm still prevents the passage.

07:45 at the Huwwara CPthere are no soldiers. There is one soldier at the incline up to the pool. We didn't see any soldier in the position opposite the hitchhikers' station.

Burin/Yitzhar:There are no military cars.

08:10 Za'tara/Tapuah:There are border-policemen in the position but there is no obstruction to the traffic.

At the Shomron crossing the checking is superficial.

Translator:  Charles K.

Not a pleasant day, long queues and flying checkpoints

06:15 As we left Ramat Hasharon, we already encountered an Israeli police checkpoint.  It’s not clear why – maybe in the name of equality.

06:25 Azzun Atma:  A long, long line.  Reservists and MP’s who don’t make much effort to shorten it by assigning a soldier to register people by hand.  Instead, the focus on physically inspecting those leaving and their bags of food.  In response to our question, they explain that these people are likely to attack with knives.  When we asked when was the last time a terror attack occurred at Azzun Atma, of course they couldn’t give us an answer.

At the checkpoint we ran into Nura and Hanna, who were taking a different route.

No Israeli police at the Shomron crossingexit from Israel.

The entrances to Marda and Zeita are open.

Za’tara/Tapuach:  Soldiers in the inspection booths, but traffic isn’t impeded.

Yitzhar/Burin checkpoints:  No military activity.

07:10  Huwwara checkpoint plaza – A group of soldiers moving into their positions (at the entrance to the Bracha settlement and opposite the hitchhiking station).

07:20  Beit Furik:  A flying checkpoint at the entrance to the village this week as well.  Soldiers set up a spike barrier; traffic stopped in both directions.  We try to bypass the line, like the settlers do, to ask the soldiers why the delay, but they made us get back into the line and wait patiently like the other residents.  Meanwhile, dozens of additional cars arrive from both directions.  A taxi tries to turn around and return to the village.  We couldn’t hear why, because we were too far away.  We telephoned the humanitarian office, the DCO and the Ministry of Defense; they said nothing could be done.

07:50  We left the village and saw the checkpoint had been dismantled, the soldiers had disappeared, and so did the line.

Awarta:  The yellow iron bar still prevents free passage.

08:00  Huwwara checkpoint -  No soldiers.  A soldier blocks the road up to Bracha settlemrnt.

Burin/Yitzhar:  A military vehicle parked in the parking bay, but doesn’t interfere.

 08:20  Za’tara/Tapuach:  No soldiers in position.  A military vehicle in the parking lot but we didn’t see it interfering with Palestinians.

At the Shomron crossing, we’re asked to open the trunk.

Translation: Hanna K.

09:30 Za'tara/Tapuah intersection

4 soldiers and one border policeman stand close to a military hummer, at the parking lot. There are no soldiers on the road. 

09:50 Huwwara CP

There are no soldiers. The traffic is lively as always.

There is a new signpost on the fence at the square "have you killed and taken possession too? There will be no olive picking at Itamar".

10:00 Beit Furik CP,  it is empty.

10:30 Za'tara/Tapuah intersection

The hummer and the soldiers too are still at the parking lot. There are no soldiers or border-policemen on the road.

10:40 Shomron Passage

Those coming from the west are meticulously checked by the blue police. Two patrol cars close the road and check each vehicle.

For those coming from the east to enter Israelthe passage is quick.

10:55 Azzun Atma South CP

2 boys with vegetables/fruit crates leave the village without being checked.

It seems that the soldier at the CP knows them and exchanges at few words with them.

A young man comes on foot from the direction of Oranit settlement,  takes out his papers to be controlled and passes three minutes later.

11:10 We left.

Translation:  Suzanne O.

Azzun Atma

6:30 a.m. 

The queue of labourers is not too long.  Reservists, who only got here yesterday, get those queuing through speedily.  A Military Policeman as well as two policewomen in the kiosks note down ID numbers.

Shomron Crossing

There is no civilian police presence at the exit from Israel.

The entrances to Marda and Zeita are open

Za'tara/Tapuach roadblock

There are soldiers in the checkpoints but no hindrance to the traffic.

There are few cars on the road. 

A military vehicle observes the entrance to Beita.

Burin/Yitzhar roadblocks

There is no military activity.

Beit Furic

7:35 a.m. 

There are no soldiers at the roadblock and the traffic flows unhindered.

There is a military vehicle at the entrance to the settlement of Itamar and the soldiers seem to be taking a nap.

Awarta

The yellow barrier still blocks the traffic from crossing freely.

Huwwara roadblock

7:45 a.m. 

There are no soldiers, one soldier stands on the road up to the settlement of Bracha and another one is in the position opposite the hitch hikers' station.

Za'tara/Tapuach

8:00 a.m. 

A female soldier staffs the positions.  There is no interference with the traffic.

Shomron Crossing

At the entrance to Israel there is the usual superficial inspection.

 Translation : Hanna K.

"we have good neighbours and there are bad neighbours" (A. From Qusra)

09:55 The Samaria Passage – Three cars are waiting at the crossing to enter Israel. We entered the WestBank, those entering are not subject to checks.

10:15 The checkpoint to Salfit – at the entrance to Ariel, there are two soldiers here, at the moment there is not traffic.

In answer to our question we are told that the entrance for vehicles (public and private) is only if one has an authorization to pass through that particular crossing. The fact that there are also private vehicles that have an authorization for this checkpoint is news to us!

At this checkpoint they check only the car authorization and not the IDs of the passengers, unless somebody looks suspicious.

10:30 Zaatara\Tapuah CP – there are no soldiers\border policemen\police. Little traffic.

On our way to the Jordan valley we turned to Qusra.
At the inner entrance to the village, just before the fork to Migdalim settlement or Qusra , there is a military jeep and soldiers who check every vehicle that enters the village (papers, trunk, parcels) and to us they signaled to continue to the Migdalim settlement. We advance and said that we were heading to Qusra, the soldier said there was no problem and didn't check us at all.

At the village (our first time there) the shops were open and children were waving "hello, hello, bye, bye"

We stopped to chat a little. Here is a diagnosis they expressed, which does offhand indicate where the problem is:

A.  "Migdalim took land from us, but little. They come down to the village to buy at the grocery, drink coffee, show respect, do not disturb. Thos are good neighbours. That's alright"

"Esh Kodesh" (an illegal outpost) took land too, but also continue making trouble -  cut down trees, kill sheep and goats, throw stones. Lunatics. Bad neighbours".

11:10 Ma'ale Ephrayim CP – it is empty.

11:25 A jeep patrols on road no. 57.

11:27 – Hamra/Beqaot CP –

Coming from the West bank: two passenger wait for their car to be checked. The car passes within a minute and so does a tractor.

Going to the West bank: four cars wait for two minutes.
And then the soldier signals with his hand and continues his gesture so that all the cars including a truck which joined them pass in a convoy (my first time here that they do not pass one by one) without checking.

At the CP itself an enormous tractor stands (with a huge paddle – is this the tractor that builds the high earth mound along the roads?)

Four women who descended from a vehicle come out together three minutes later.

There is a lot of traffic leaving the Bank.

11:30 Two full taxis arrive. The passengers descend, wait at a great distance from the checking porthole.

11:33 A soldier signals to the first three to approach the porthole.

11:37 Another five are allowed to advance.
One taxi goes on its way.

11:40 A second taxi went on its way. 10 minutes.

But nevertheless, why wait like this in the sun, at a distance, for a soldier to signal that they should approach the porthole?

12:05 Ma'ale Ephrayim – empty, in the tower too.

12:25 Za'tara\Tapuah junction – there are two border policemen, on at the inspection post, looking at the people who go through. We didn't see that they stopped anybody.

12:50 Huwwara CP – is empty, in the tower too. There is a lot of traffic.

13:00 Beit Furik CP – empty.

We returned through Burin\Yitzhar, Jit, Al Funduq, Nabi Elias, Eliyahu Passage.

Translator:  Charles K.

Significant days; the attempt to achieve UN recognition of a Palestinian state.

It’s moving to see occasionally a Palestinian flag flying over private homes. 

15:05  Shomron crossing – No police.  No congestion on either side. 

15:25  Za’tara checkpoint – Soldiers in the guard towers.  No soldiers in the inspection booths.

No congestion.

15:51  Massive military presence on the firing range next to the Huwwara DCO.  The firing range has been moved from its previous location (near the Huwwara checkpoint) – and it’s now right next to the entrance to the Huwwara DCO.

15:55  Beit Furik checkpoint – We saw no soldiers at the checkpoint.

16:35  Jit junction – Two soldiers, weapons drawn, check a Palestinian.

16:37  A little past the villageof Jitan army vehicle comes toward us.

 16:45  An army jeep parked opposite the entrance to Azzun.

We’re told:  Yesterday university and high school students marched in Azzun.  As they neared the main road the Palestinian police prevented them from continuing.  Israeli soldiers fired at them.  No one was injured.

Translation:  Suzanne O.

A small change in the plan – a friendly visit to the palace built on the borders of Beit Furik

Shomron Crossing

6:30 a.m. 

There is no civilian police presence at the exit from Israel.

The entrances to Marda and Zeita are open.

Za'tara/Tapuach

We saw no soldiers at the checkpoints or in the position opposite the roundabout.  There were few cars at the top of the road.

A military vehicle drives through the streets of Huwwara.

Yitzhar/Burin roadblocks

There is no military activity.

6:58 a.m.

On the way to Huwwara roadblock there is a flying checkpoint:  a military vehicle has stopped a car for questioning on the shoulder of the road.

Awarta

The yellow barrier is still barring the crossing to Nablus.

We stop in Beit Furik to pay our respects in the house which has just been completed at the entrance to the village.  It is many storied and particularly ornate.  It has a swimming pool, a lodge for security people and a very large fruit orchard.  The owner was born in Beit Furik and his wife (his first wife) was born in Nablus.  Their daughters are at home including the eldest who is on a visit with their first grandchild.  It all represents a comfortable lifestyle and a good life.

Beit Furik

7:40 a.m. 

There are no soldiers at the roadblock and the traffic flows unhindered.

Huwwara roadblock

7:45 a.m. 

There are no soldiers at the roadblock itself but now a soldier is positioned along the road to the settlement Bracha and another one opposite the hitchhikers' station.  There is something new:  the area around the old car park and the pedestrian checkpoints has been cleared of all the weeds and rubbish which had accumulated there.  Is the intention to re-start the roadblock or is it just readying the area for the coming rainy season?

On the way to Borin there is a flying roadblock and the owner of a car is being inspected, there was no way we could tell if it was the same car that we saw before.

Burin/Yitzhar

There is no military activity.

Za'tara/Tapuach

8:20 a.m. 

Soldiers (not Border Police) staff the checkpoint, they do not hold up the traffic.

Azzun Atma

8:40 a.m. 

Because of the late hour there are no Palestinians at all at the road block.  According to the Military Policeman it had been a particularly difficult morning because one of the computers is being repaired.  There had been a queue of hundreds crowded up against the turnstile which impeded it from working properly.  A young armoured corps soldier staffed the position beside him.

At Shomron Crossing the inspection was superficial as usual. 

Route 5.  Sha'ar Shomron, Kifl Haris, Qira, Jamma'in, Einabus, Hawwara, Awarta, Beit Furik and back.  15 September 2011

Translation: Suzanne O.

We drive through the end of summer scenery, pre-Palestinian State declaration.

All three of us took a break this summer from going to the territories and we were pleased to try out Route 5.

It is a week before the declaration of the Palestinian State and there are no obvious signs of what may/could happen here.  The Palestinians, like the Israelis, shrug their shoulders in a 'don't know' attitude, they have no faith in the fettered Abu Mazen and we have no faith in our government.  As promised in this morning's newspaper there is not much military presence, there are no new flags.  There is uncertainty in the air.

There are banners in red and black: "The down hill run will end at Migron" In Hawwara and Za'tara Junction giving hints of what may/could happen.

We follow road signs and the new maps which 'the trail blazers' Dalia and Tsvia prepared for us.  One drives, the second navigates, the third points out the wild flowers, dates and the lovely scenery.

Kifl Haris

The gate is open; we climb up the ridge and drive on winding, easy roads.

Qira directly overlooks Ariel.

Jamma'in

We were amazed at the size of the village.  Really it is a town.  When one thinks of how many years it was cordoned off …

Einabus

It absolutely borders on Hawwara.

Huwwara

It is full of life.  We turn in the direction of Odelia, Awarta.  A Border Police jeep stops traffic for a spot inspection on both sides of the road.  We didn't see it again later on.

The new fairground in Hawwara valley (in the direction of Beita): we alighted to see the miracle.  (It rivals the one above Hawwara)  We had a coffee with the owner– M.A. – who, with his two sons, invested 2 million of their own money to build it and are still in debt.  M told us with pride that the big wheel is 26 metres high, while that of their competitor on the hill opposite measures only 22 metres and, even in Tel Aviv, the big wheel is only 24 metres high…

The fairground was empty and clean and our hearts went out to M., who, while not yet making a profit, has a vision of amusing the children in the area and providing them with a place to have fun and feel comfortable.

Awarta

We went into the grocery store we are familiar with and met with our old friends.  We were offered dates.  We discovered a modern oil press next to the shop where they store the oil, bottle and pack it for export to Europe and the USA.  Preparations are well in hand for 15 October, the day the olive picking starts.  The expected yield this year is 'so so' 30%.

The oil press owners told us that the army warned them that next week there would be a roadblock on the road from Awarta, between the DCO and the Awarta roadblock.

Miki searched for little Malk's house, for whom she had obtained permission to be operated on in Israel through the 'Peres Peace Centre'.  We were delighted to meet the motherless beautiful little girl of 9 years of age.

Awarta roadblock

Closed.

Beit Furik village

As we arrived two military cars left.  The news today reported the burning of 3 cars in the village.  We drove along the fine road into the village and talked to inhabitants.  They told us that in the morning there had been a roadblock at the exit to the village.  The morning shift did not report a roadblock.

Beit Furik roadblock

There are no soldiers.

We returned via Hawwara, Za'tara/Tapuach Junction and Shomron Crossing.  We saw no particular military activity.

More banners shook us again:

• "The down hill run will end at Migron"
• Freedom is over – we salute Migron
• Against the Arabs and Leftist organisations – help the "Regavim" act
• Regavim guard your home
• Only one organisation has the teeth to deal with the Leftist organisations www.regavim.org.il

Natanya translating.

10.30 Habla, agricultural gate #1393.   The gate is closed. A Palestinian meets us who speaks good Hebrew and tells us of his love for his land and his crops

10.35 Eliyahu crossing. A Palestinian with his a cart and horse is waiting to cross and besides from him there are no others.

We went through Azzun, Jayyus, Kafr Jammal. Falamiya. Again through Kafr Jammal  and Kafr Tsur. We did not go beyond the Kafriat/Te'enim crossing, and decided to get to know the surrounding villages. We went through Kur, Hajja and stopped at the vegetable shop and a grocery shop Hajja seems to us as developed village…relatively many shops. The residents very pleasant and greet us.  We got to  Al Funduq and route 55.

13.00 Jit junctionis open. Many cars in the direction of Sara. We go on to Madama and Huwwara.

13.15 Checkpoint of Huwwara.There are no soldiers and no one in the sentry towers. There is much traffic.

Beit Furik.  Here too the checkpoint and sentry towers are empty of soldiers.

14.10 Za’tara/Tapuach junction. There are no soldiers at the checkpoint. On the road in the direction of the entrance to Tapuach settlement  there is a jeep and 4 border police.

14.25 The Shomron crossing. Little traffic. The entrance to Israel is swift.