Za'tara (Tapuah)

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.

09:45

Zaatara: Soldiers on both sides of the road to Huwwara, checking vehicles. In the northward direction a line of about 20 cars.

10:00

Huwwara: At the CP soldiers are standing in the direction of the exit from Nablus, but didn't stop cars. When two of them came up to us we asked what had happened that at Zaatara checks are carried out. They replied that this was the instruction and added "believe us that there is a reason".

10:30

Zeita (near Jam'in): We had arranged beforehand to arrive there in order to meet women who had contacted us via Nadim and asked us to come to them and act together. When we arrived their organizer, an elderly woman who is also the Koran teacher in the village was waiting for us. She and a man invited us to enter the handsome building of the mosque and the local council, and to join a group of men who had gathered there for a meeting. The men too received us cheerfully. There was a visitor there, a representative of World Vision, a Christian organization which assists the villages all over the West Bank in subjects such as amplification. Education etc.

They told us a bit about the village and heard from us about Machsom Watch and our activity during the last years. When the subject of the settlers' harassment came up they said that the settlers don't come to them, but suggested we visit the village of Yinoun where the settlers harm the villagers a lot. In the course of the conversation it became clear to us that the woman who invited us had heard about us from another functionary in Ra'afat, with whom we have tried to cooperate last summer.

At the end of the talk with the men and the organizer, we went with her to the place where the social meeting takes place and where about ten young and elderly women were waiting for us. Again we got to know each other and we suggested to them to meet once a week for physical activity, bead threading and language study. We suggested English, but they preferred Hebrew. We told them that we would be happy to learn Arabic from them and the organizer suggested we do it during our conversations with them. We decided to begin the meetings next week.

11:45

Hares: Women from Hares too approached us, via Nadim's phone and asked to meet us. We didn't succeed in contacting them beforehand and when we arrived at their meeting place there wasn't nobody there anymore. We left a message that we have been looking for them and for them to contact us. 

Translator: Hanna K.

Today it is very cold, grey, rain from time to time. 

10:05 Salfit CP

Another improvement at the CP: a booth has been added at the left side of the road.

As usual there are two soldiers at the CP. The CP is open, there is no traffic.

10:15 Za'tara/Tapuah intersection

A military jeep at the parking lot

Two soldiers (at least) on the observation tower in the center of the CP.

On the road itself there are neither soldiers nor police.

The traffic is lively, almost as usual.

10:25 On the road from the Za'tara/Tapuah intersection to Huwwara, at the right turn in the direction of Beita, a military hummer is parked horizontally and blocks half a lane.  

Three soldiers on the road stop and check vehicles leaving Beita.

They stop a vehicle and wave to the others to pass,

They check I.D.s, trunk. They release it a few minutes later.

Immediately after releasing one they stop another and so on and so forth.

The checking seems haphazard and doesn't last long.

One pedestrian is stopped and checked.

10:50 Huwwara

At the center of the village, just opposite the falafel stand, there is a military hummer.

The soldiers are in the jeep.

11:00 Huwwara CP

The CP is empty. There probably are soldiers in the tower, we couldn't see clearly.

The traffic is lively and free.

11:10 Beit Furik CP – empty

11:15 A hummer is parked at the entrance to Itamar

11:20 Again the Huwwara CP 

This time there are soldiers here. A military Hummer is parked at the exit from Nablus.

There are four soldiers on the road, they signal and stop cars for checking.

Again – the selection seems haphazard, one vehicle is checked while a soldiers signals to the others to go on driving, and when the checking of one is finished they fish another vehicle.

While we were there they released the cars quite quickly, after checking the I.D.s and the trunk.

11:40 Sara Junction

We see a police car, no detainees. Later, immediately after we turned into road no. 60 we saw a police jeep hastening in the direction of the junction.

12:00 We entered the road to Beit Ibba. We saw no CP not even a flying CP at the Shave Shomron settlement area.

Actually, just as we went back to road no. 60 a military jeep entered and drove in the direction of Beit Ibba. We didn't check.

12:30 Anabta CP

The checkpoint is empty.

We bought coffee from the man with the thermos (it is rainy and cold and he is here!)

and collected a Palestinian hitch hiker who, according to him, had been waiting there for an hour without anybody stopping for him.

12:40 Kafriat/Te'enim passage

No cars as opposed to sunny Saturdays. We returned to Israel.

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Translator:  Charles K.

We pass through the area of the Za’tara checkpoint before 3 AM.  It’s completely deserted, no soldiers in position, just a light in the guard tower.

We go through the Ma’aleh Efraim checkpoint before 3:30 AM.  It’s also empty.

We pass by the Hamra checkpoint at about 3:45 AM.  No cars, no people; soldiers at the checkpoint.

4:05-5:45  Tayasir checkpoint

No people or cars at the checkpoint before 4:15.  Soldiers are at the vehicle checkpoint and the location where documents are checked up the hill above the road.  They didn’t object to our standing very close to each of those places.

The first car appears at 4:15 AM, then a minibus, then additional cars gradually arrive between 4:30-4:45, transporting laborers to their jobs at various locations, from Ro’i and Na’ama to Beit Ha’arava.

The inspection proceeds very slowly, 3-5 minutes per person, even though they’re only checking documents and the soldier in the booth has continual access to a computer.  The minibus driver waited from 4:20 to 5:40 for his passengers, and during this hour nine cars waited for their passengers.  People who have to begin work at Beit Ha’arava at 6 AM, for example, won’t get there on time.

We asked the shift commander why things are so slow, but he didn’t provide any explanation.  We telephoned the army’s “humanitarian office” who said there had been an infiltration attempt during the night so the roads are jammed.  An answer which is completely irrelevant to the situation at this checkpoint.

People told us that at this time of year, particularly during the coming month, there’s not much work, and most of it is in tomatoes.  The pay is still poor and the employers still avoid their legal obligations to their workers.  The people say that heads of families who have no supplementary source of food such as goats, chickens or a vegetable plot will have great difficulty surviving on that income, which also depends somewhat on the season.  Everyone – laborers and drivers – complained about how slow the Tayasir crossing was, both early in the morning and when they return in the afternoon.  Some said that it’s worse when religious soldiers are stationed there.

6:10-6:50  Hamra checkpoint

There are usually very few people here at this hour.  Today it was filled with people and cars.  38 vehicles waited for their passengers.  Some 200-250 people waited on a very long line behind the checkpoint buildings, many of whom had been there since 4:30 AM.  There were always 7-8 people in the building where detainees are held, waiting a long time for their names to be called and replaced by others.  Some went on to their jobs; others were turned back.  During the time we were there we counted 11 people who weren’t allowed through the checkpoint and went back.  Two of the detainees were there during our entire stay.

The line only started to get shorter quickly as 7 AM approached, people coming through in groups of three and four, much more rapidly.  Most of the vehicles had left by 7 with their passengers.

Teachers, most of whom work in Jericho, the Jiftlik and the school not far from the checkpoint, arrived slightly before 7.  They told us they cross quickly so as not to be late for school.  They, as well as others at both checkpoints, told us that the pupils cross at about 7:30.  They’re never allowed to remain on the school buses.  Even though they don’t have ID cards they must get off, go through the metal detector and walk a considerable distance (exposed to the winds at the Tayasir checkpoint) to the bus which is already waiting on the other side.

We told the humanitarian office about the long lines as well as about the two detainees who hadn’t been released.

The soldiers here also didn’t object to our standing near the checkpoint itself all the time we were there.  They didn’t have a clear answer to the question of why everything is so terribly slow.  The checkpoint commander didn’t either.  At about 6:45 we saw three men wearing coveralls, not Palestinians, going through the checkpoint in the opposite direction.  Who they were, what they were doing, did they have any connection to the fact that crossing was slow this morning – we can only guess.

A military vehicle was positioned in the area where cars waited.  Its soldiers detained two youths for a short time; they apparently hadn’t crossed through the checkpoint itself.  Two of the soldiers, faces almost completely hidden, weapons drawn, continued to stand next to the vehicle even after the youths had been sent back.

It was very cold the whole time.

The Ma’aleh Efraim checkpoint was empty when we crossed on our way back.

At the entrance to Beruchin a military patrol took place, a male and a female soldier marched with a walkie talkie and a military car accompanied them. It is quiet in the village, the children are on holiday and run around the streets. We passed next to the mosque that was burned down, and the burnt car and tractor which stand there as monuments in memory of the villainous act that has been committed in the village.

At the club we met the lady members and talked about the common plans. If everything goes well we shall begin working there next week.

We continued in the direction of Zaatara, the CP is open and cars pass without being checked. On the road leading from Huwwara to Beita a hummer with soldiers was parked.

At Beita, a very beautiful village. We met the members of an association which established a few shops for the sale of foodstuff made by them as well as cosmetics and handicraft. They very much wish to establish connections with us. To our questions about the bullying of the army or the settlers they answered that at their village all was quiet and that the difficult events take place outside the village.

On the way back we saw near the Zaatara CP ad group of soldiers marching at the margins of the street among which there were 2-3 men in civilian gear with arms. We didn't understand what that meant.

On road no. 55 we saw at the entrance to El Hares military vehicles.

__._,_.___

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. 

Translation: Bracha B.A.

09:30 – The Shomron (Samaria) Gate

The checkpoint is empty.

09:45 – Salafit

There were two soldiers at the checkpoint, which was also empty.

10:00 – Tapuach Junction

There was a jeep at the junction but no police or soldiers present.

10:15 – Maaleh Efraim

There were three soldiers at the checkpoint, which was unusual.

10:50 – Hamra Checkpoint

There were four soldiers present.  We met a man who told us that Danny Ashkenazi, the person responsible for security, is constantly harassing Palestinians.  Passage is going smoothly.

11:20 – Tayasir Checkpoint

Four cars are waiting for passengers who are being checked.  One of the drivers told us that they have been waiting for more than a half hour, and it was unusual for so many cars to be waiting there on Saturday.  We met a lot of people who were waiting and we asked if people were ever allowed to show their documents and pass through without getting out of their cars.  They explained that everything depended upon the soldier and whether he was pleasant or not.  Some soldiers let people through quickly and other "bad" ones deliberately make people wait for an hour and a half.  This is particularly true of people going from Tubas to the Jordan Valley.

By 11:40 all the cars that had been waiting and their passengers had crossed through.

12:30 – Hamra Checkpoint

There is a long line of cars waiting and there are  six soldiers, a bulldozer, and a command car at the checkpoint.

13:00 – Maaleh Efraim Checkpoint

The soldiers who were there this morning are now gone and the checkpoint is empty.  There is at least one soldier in the watchtower.

13:10 – Tapuach Junction

There are no soldiers present.

13:45 – Hawara Checkpoint

There are no soldiers present.

13:55 – There is a temporary road block at the entrance to Tzaara.   At 14:05 a jeep arrived and evidently gave an order to leave, and the roadblock is taken away.  People can pass through freely again.

14:20 -  – Eliyahu Gate

There is a long line of cars waiting to cross into Israel.

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.

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