Huwwara

09:30

Hares. First meeting with a women's group whose coordinator has contacted us via Nadim and asked to meet and to organize different activities with them. We told them about Machsom Watch. The women expressed interest and asked that we organize different activities with them. They heard about us from the coordinator of a women's group in Ra'afat.

We promised to begin on Tuesday English studies and handicraft with the intention for them to sell them.  The women were ready for us to come several times a week, but we explained to them that that was not possible at the moment. They also asked us to come in the afternoon or on Friday-Saturday in order to teach the young girls English when they are not at school. We promised to look for a possibility to do that in the future (any volunteers?)

10:20

On the the roadside in the direction of Kif El-Hares a military jeep and commandcar were parked.

10:35

Zeita. After we met last week the coordinator and a small women's group, this time about 30 women arrived for the reunion. They opted beforehand to learn Hebrew. We split into two groups and Bruria and myself taught them the first steps. We agreed to meet in the future on Wednesdays and to work with them in groups for threading, gymnastics and alternately Hebrew. We still need a Hebrew teacher, to enable us to teach every week and to be more effective. The women are full of drive and the atmosphere in both places was very pleasant. In future we shall try to organize Arabic lessons for us in one of the two villages. 

Simultaneously Jehudit continued the tour with Nadim).

11:00

Jam'in – more shops were open and an activity on the street was felt.

11:25

Huwwara – The road is open in both directions and the CP isn't manned.

13:00

At the exit from Hares  the CP on the road leading eastwards was activated. Three soldiers stood there and ordered the driver and the passengers of a passing car to get out for checking, including their papers and the trunk.

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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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.

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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.

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:  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.

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: 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.

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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