Weekly Digest 9.3.08-15.3.08
תאריך:
04/04/2008
תוכן:
Sunday
AM, 9.3.08
AM, 9.3.08
07:00
Bethlehem: Sign of today's
closure are easy to see. No workers on the roadside and no minibuses or
employers around. At the CP only one booth open, and almost no work for it. Many
security personnel. Those crossing are all humanitarian cases, and though few,
it takes half an hour to cross.
Bethlehem: Sign of today's
closure are easy to see. No workers on the roadside and no minibuses or
employers around. At the CP only one booth open, and almost no work for it. Many
security personnel. Those crossing are all humanitarian cases, and though few,
it takes half an hour to cross.
08:00
Ezyon: Quiet and hazy. A GSS denied man who is petitioning the High Court
comes to sign documents. 2 employers are
spotted cursing. They leave the DCL with
rapid steps, their employees running after them trying to figure out what will
happen to them now. It gives one the shivers to watch the
scene.
Ezyon: Quiet and hazy. A GSS denied man who is petitioning the High Court
comes to sign documents. 2 employers are
spotted cursing. They leave the DCL with
rapid steps, their employees running after them trying to figure out what will
happen to them now. It gives one the shivers to watch the
scene.
Tuesday,
11.3.08, AM
11.3.08, AM
06:30,
Bethlehem CP. 6 posts
functioning. Crowded, but things were not as bad as in previous weeks.
Alleviated on both sides at around 07:30.
Bethlehem CP. 6 posts
functioning. Crowded, but things were not as bad as in previous weeks.
Alleviated on both sides at around 07:30.
08:15,
Ezyon DCL. Empty.
Ezyon DCL. Empty.
Wednesday
PM, 13.3.08
PM, 13.3.08
Ezyon
DCL,
16:00. The DCL supervision unit
confiscated a couple of trucks and other mechanicalequipment from a Beit Umar
resident who kept his garage equipment on route 60. They deamnded that he "clean up the area"
from all his stuff, and would then get the confiscated things back. He did.
He has been coming again and again to the DCL for his belongings, and has
been told again and again: "Come
tomorrow". We intervened on his
behalf. The outcome? "Tell him to come
tomorrow".
DCL,
16:00. The DCL supervision unit
confiscated a couple of trucks and other mechanicalequipment from a Beit Umar
resident who kept his garage equipment on route 60. They deamnded that he "clean up the area"
from all his stuff, and would then get the confiscated things back. He did.
He has been coming again and again to the DCL for his belongings, and has
been told again and again: "Come
tomorrow". We intervened on his
behalf. The outcome? "Tell him to come
tomorrow".
Bethlehem
CP,
16:45. No queue, people pour out of the
transits, and rush through, it only takes minutes.
CP,
16:45. No queue, people pour out of the
transits, and rush through, it only takes minutes.
Abu
Dis Area
Dis Area
Monday
AM, 10.3.08
AM, 10.3.08
Container
CP. A number of shuttle taxies waiting for
the ID cards of their passengers to be
returned. 9 detained men in the
soldiers' station, some, apparently, for up to 2 hours.
CP. A number of shuttle taxies waiting for
the ID cards of their passengers to be
returned. 9 detained men in the
soldiers' station, some, apparently, for up to 2 hours.
Wednesday PM,
12.3.08
12.3.08
Container
CP,
15:00: Long queues in both directions. However, soon after the lines dwindled
considerably and most cars were waved through. 2 detainees are released within a
few minutes of our arrival. A woman down the road is speaking to one of the BP
agitatedly. She is forcefully escorted to the pen. Apparently her son-in-law is
incarcerated in the locked booth next to the pen. She would not adhere to orders
to stay put in the car, therefore the punitive measure. Every now and then cabs
and cars are randomly stopped for a check. It usually takes a few
minutes.
CP,
15:00: Long queues in both directions. However, soon after the lines dwindled
considerably and most cars were waved through. 2 detainees are released within a
few minutes of our arrival. A woman down the road is speaking to one of the BP
agitatedly. She is forcefully escorted to the pen. Apparently her son-in-law is
incarcerated in the locked booth next to the pen. She would not adhere to orders
to stay put in the car, therefore the punitive measure. Every now and then cabs
and cars are randomly stopped for a check. It usually takes a few
minutes.
!5:40:
Pedestrians arrive in large groups, their IDs checked and their plastic bags
opened. Meanwhile, a long queue of vehicles has formed. Why?
One driver threw his cigarette butt out of the car. He is ordered to get
out and pick it up. Another driver is
instructed to reverse because he came too close to the checking point by some
5
meters. This too slows things
down.
Pedestrians arrive in large groups, their IDs checked and their plastic bags
opened. Meanwhile, a long queue of vehicles has formed. Why?
One driver threw his cigarette butt out of the car. He is ordered to get
out and pick it up. Another driver is
instructed to reverse because he came too close to the checking point by some
5
meters. This too slows things
down.
15:45:
Some 50 pedestrians are crowded in front of the turnstile which has not been
opened. When it does, they go thru quickly. The woman and her son in law are
released, as arbitrarily as they were detained.
A white car has been waiting for over 20 minutes. We are forbidden to
talk to the passengers.
Some 50 pedestrians are crowded in front of the turnstile which has not been
opened. When it does, they go thru quickly. The woman and her son in law are
released, as arbitrarily as they were detained.
A white car has been waiting for over 20 minutes. We are forbidden to
talk to the passengers.
16:00:
The white detained car is joined by another. 10 minutes later both cars are
allowed to go on their way.
The white detained car is joined by another. 10 minutes later both cars are
allowed to go on their way.
16:20:
An ambulance from Ramallah transfers a patient into an ambulance from Bethlehem.
An ambulance from Ramallah transfers a patient into an ambulance from Bethlehem.
Qalandiya Area
Monday
AM, 10.3.08
06:50
Anata CP. Voluminous traffic.
Hundreds of schoolchildren, and people with blue IDs, none with green. The
garbage piles are staggering. A large number of BP check the cars
fast.
Anata CP. Voluminous traffic.
Hundreds of schoolchildren, and people with blue IDs, none with green. The
garbage piles are staggering. A large number of BP check the cars
fast.
Monday
PM, 10.3.08 , 14:00-17:30
PM, 10.3.08 , 14:00-17:30
Anata. Hundreds of
schoolchildren pouring out of busses, many near-accident situations, because
cars ignore them as they walk the long way home.
schoolchildren pouring out of busses, many near-accident situations, because
cars ignore them as they walk the long way home.
Atara. Quite a long line of cars in both directions,
but shortly the lines had been reduced.
Drivers waved at us and begged us to return every day. Occasionally a yellow cab was stopped, trunk
and documents inspected. Usually within 5 minutes the car was sent on its
way.
but shortly the lines had been reduced.
Drivers waved at us and begged us to return every day. Occasionally a yellow cab was stopped, trunk
and documents inspected. Usually within 5 minutes the car was sent on its
way.
Thursday
AM, 13.3.08
AM, 13.3.08
06.40
Anata: A HUGE line of cars, honking desperately. About 10 soldiers and civil
security people altogether. Every car is being checked. Pedestrian passage is
smooth.
Anata: A HUGE line of cars, honking desperately. About 10 soldiers and civil
security people altogether. Every car is being checked. Pedestrian passage is
smooth.
07.
20 Ar-Ram: Smooth passage. No car queues in either direction. Pupils'
schoolbags are checked.
20 Ar-Ram: Smooth passage. No car queues in either direction. Pupils'
schoolbags are checked.
07.40
Qalandiya. Hell. Only one turnstile working. They keep breaking down, apparently. The
crowd is quite large, and when the turnstile opens, people push to get ahead,
and climb over the turnstile. It took 35 (!) minutes to get through the external
turnstile. The line for women and students opened quite regularly. Many
prisoners' families came and apparently will be let through only after the crowd
dwindles, an hour later.
Area
Qalandiya. Hell. Only one turnstile working. They keep breaking down, apparently. The
crowd is quite large, and when the turnstile opens, people push to get ahead,
and climb over the turnstile. It took 35 (!) minutes to get through the external
turnstile. The line for women and students opened quite regularly. Many
prisoners' families came and apparently will be let through only after the crowd
dwindles, an hour later.
Nablus
Area
Sunday,
9.3.08, PM
14:00,
Jit Junction. No checkpoint at this hour.
Jit Junction. No checkpoint at this hour.
14:10,
Deir Sharaf. A woman tells us that the day before, at around 2:30 in the
afternoon, about 15 jeeps tore along the dirt road and stopped by her house.
About 30 or more soldiers proceeded to order all the neighbors, from the
surrounding ten houses, to assemble in her courtyard, relieved everybody of
their phones, and proceeded to run amok. We went into three of the houses that
were wrecked. Cupboards turned over and bedding strewn all over the floor,
furniture, including sofas, stuffed chairs and tables, torn apart, walls covered
with soot from smoke bombs, a computer destroyed, money stolen. Apparently, the
jeeps and soldiers’ arrival were a result of three young students being accosted
on the main road, coming from Beit Iba. They were stopped on the main road by
soldiers, demanding to know where they lived. The three friends were taken away
by the soldiers, and, of course, it is not known where.
Deir Sharaf. A woman tells us that the day before, at around 2:30 in the
afternoon, about 15 jeeps tore along the dirt road and stopped by her house.
About 30 or more soldiers proceeded to order all the neighbors, from the
surrounding ten houses, to assemble in her courtyard, relieved everybody of
their phones, and proceeded to run amok. We went into three of the houses that
were wrecked. Cupboards turned over and bedding strewn all over the floor,
furniture, including sofas, stuffed chairs and tables, torn apart, walls covered
with soot from smoke bombs, a computer destroyed, money stolen. Apparently, the
jeeps and soldiers’ arrival were a result of three young students being accosted
on the main road, coming from Beit Iba. They were stopped on the main road by
soldiers, demanding to know where they lived. The three friends were taken away
by the soldiers, and, of course, it is not known where.
14:45,
Beit Iba. About three dozen men in the regular checking lines. A lot of
soldiers. As we arrive, a young man is led to the detention
compound.
Beit Iba. About three dozen men in the regular checking lines. A lot of
soldiers. As we arrive, a young man is led to the detention
compound.
A., the commander, comes to where we’re
standing, “That’s the area of the checkpoint. You can’t stand there.” We insist
that this is where we always stand. Without further ado, he closes the
checkpoint. As we move back from the checkpoint it is once again opened. The
entire incident takes but a few minutes.
standing, “That’s the area of the checkpoint. You can’t stand there.” We insist
that this is where we always stand. Without further ado, he closes the
checkpoint. As we move back from the checkpoint it is once again opened. The
entire incident takes but a few minutes.
15:10.
It’s hard to see, from our vantage point, how many vehicles are in the line to
exit Nablus, not
many.
It’s hard to see, from our vantage point, how many vehicles are in the line to
exit Nablus, not
many.
A
final note: during this shift, we phoned the Humanitarian Center to find out about “closure” in the
OPT today. We got no straight answers at all as to where there was closure, or
if there was closure.
final note: during this shift, we phoned the Humanitarian Center to find out about “closure” in the
OPT today. We got no straight answers at all as to where there was closure, or
if there was closure.
Qalqiliya Area
Sunday,
9.3.08, PM
12:40,
Habla. A Palestinian Israeli family, innumerable packages and two hot and
impatient children arrive at the agricultural gate, hoping to visit family on
the other side. The commander, taking his time to call in the ID numbers of the
Israeli family eventually tells them that the “list” on which their names may
appear is not with him, but at another crossing point, with which there is no
“connection.” It’s nearing closing time, and he is anxious to get rid of
problems before he begins closing the gate at 12:59. So no family visit.
Habla. A Palestinian Israeli family, innumerable packages and two hot and
impatient children arrive at the agricultural gate, hoping to visit family on
the other side. The commander, taking his time to call in the ID numbers of the
Israeli family eventually tells them that the “list” on which their names may
appear is not with him, but at another crossing point, with which there is no
“connection.” It’s nearing closing time, and he is anxious to get rid of
problems before he begins closing the gate at 12:59. So no family visit.
12:
55, Qalqilya. Not much traffic in either
direction.
55, Qalqilya. Not much traffic in either
direction.
13:30,
Azun. A Palestine Red
Crescent ambulance enters what was once the access
road to the town, stops, and a father and little girl emerge. They wander round
the edge of the mountains of earth, the tangles of barbed wire and wind their
way carefully homewards.
Azun. A Palestine Red
Crescent ambulance enters what was once the access
road to the town, stops, and a father and little girl emerge. They wander round
the edge of the mountains of earth, the tangles of barbed wire and wind their
way carefully homewards.
17:00,
Anabta. Little traffic. Israeli cars pass freely. No line to Tulkarm;
from the city, only seven. A yellow taxi is stopped, all IDs taken from the men
inside, checked by the commander inside the military tower, an operation that
takes three minutes. Taxi drivers waiting for passengers, in their usual parking
spot, tell us that today, at 14:00, a jeep came to tell them that they could no
longer stand where they do (meaning, of course, that their livelihoods would be
wrecked).
Anabta. Little traffic. Israeli cars pass freely. No line to Tulkarm;
from the city, only seven. A yellow taxi is stopped, all IDs taken from the men
inside, checked by the commander inside the military tower, an operation that
takes three minutes. Taxi drivers waiting for passengers, in their usual parking
spot, tell us that today, at 14:00, a jeep came to tell them that they could no
longer stand where they do (meaning, of course, that their livelihoods would be
wrecked).
17:30,
Jubara. No traffic from the OPT trying to enter Israel.
Jubara. No traffic from the OPT trying to enter Israel.
17:35,
Gate 753. Four-six pedestrians. Checking is slow.
Gate 753. Four-six pedestrians. Checking is slow.
17:40,
Ar-Ras. Little traffic. IDs of passengers are checked in cursory fashion.
Ar-Ras. Little traffic. IDs of passengers are checked in cursory fashion.
Hebron
Area
Sunday
AM, 9.3.08, 06.45-09.30
Meitar
CP. Deserted, due to the closure since last
Friday following the Yeshiva massacre.
CP. Deserted, due to the closure since last
Friday following the Yeshiva massacre.
Dura
El Pawar. Open both ways, many cars
crossing.
El Pawar. Open both ways, many cars
crossing.
Sheep
J.
Pedestrians on their way to Hebron
J.
Pedestrians on their way to Hebron
Shiyuch,
Sair. Closed and deserted
Sair. Closed and deserted
Road
60: Many children along the road, on their way to
school.
60: Many children along the road, on their way to
school.
Hebron:
New
graffit on the closed doors of the shops, calling for revenge and death to the
Arabs. Jeeps with armed soldiers secure the junctions toward Abraham
Mosque. Only few international
volunteers around, and some children going to school through the Pharmacy and
Tarpat CPs. Down from Abraham Mosque, a detainee caught by the BP was checked
and released when we stopped to watch.
New
graffit on the closed doors of the shops, calling for revenge and death to the
Arabs. Jeeps with armed soldiers secure the junctions toward Abraham
Mosque. Only few international
volunteers around, and some children going to school through the Pharmacy and
Tarpat CPs. Down from Abraham Mosque, a detainee caught by the BP was checked
and released when we stopped to watch.
Halhul east. Open.
Thursday AM, 13.3.08
05:45. Tarqumiya - Some 700 workers in the line, which extended beyond the
covered area. Workers said they had been there about an hour, and that the
crowding resulted from other CPs being closed. Today was not cold, and it gets
light earlier in the morning, which helps. 4 positions open, 2 on each side. We
counted 23 workers passing per minute. When at some point, a new station
suddenly opened, all were pleased. By 06:50 the covered area was almost empty.