Souht Hebron, Thursday 10.06.04 Morning Observers: Judy A., Mira B., Laka Tz.Reporting: Leka 6:30 – We left Tel Shokat junction. We stopped briefly to say “good morning” to the soldiers at Shim’a. They will soon leave the checkpoint and reserve soldiers (their cars were visible at the checkpoint) will replace them. Dura-Al-Fawar junction: completely empty of cars, residents, and soldiers. We were alone on the road for many kilometers. Sheep junction: Nothing there either. On the way to Halhul we pass few cars. East Halhul junction near the pillbox: no one in sight. The entrance to the Halhul bridge was closed. There is traffic on the bridge. We returned to road 60 to Shuhuk-Sair junction: The crossing is open. There are no soldiers or students (it is summer vacation). No one is crossing. Taxis are parked. We didn’t approach them. We continued to Zif junction. One humvee traveled in front of us. After the junction there was a roadblock with a humvee parked on the side. One soldier was inside and three outside. They check the travel documents of local residents. One of the soldiers asked to see (with a smile) our IDs even though they had heard of us.We continued on road 317 (a new road for us). When we passed Karmel, Maon, Samua, Sussia, Bet Kitir. Mitzpa Ashel (mahaz), the paved road is for us only. “sfat hasimanim” (work well in the territories: when one sees a paved and twisting road to somewhere, it is clear that it leads to a settlement, even if there is no signpost and the settlement is not seen part) it is clear that they lead to “their” palestinian villages even if we don’t see them.We return to road 60 and are back at Tel Shokat (8:15). This was a “morning trip” with no action and beautiful mountain views – really pastoral. Mira and I asked ourselves if there is a need to travel everyday to the internal checkpoints.