HUWWARA, BEIT IBA, Wednesday 21 July 2004 AMObservers: Shalva C., Miriam L., Keren P., Hanna A. (reporting) colour=red>08:15 — Huwwara North Traffic was sparse and there were not many people leaving Nablus.Huwwara South There were about 10 detainees [who were being held pending security cross-checks on their ID details by the General Security Services (GSS, also known, from the Hebrew acronym, as the Shabak or Shin Bet), a process that can take some considerable time, especially if the checkpoint soldiers do not notify the GSS as each case comes through, but instead wait until they have several ID cards. During this time, the detainees, generally men between the ages of 16 and 30 or 35, are virtually prisoners at the checkpoints since the soldiers hold their ID cards until clearance comes through from the GSS]. The commander, R., said he wasn’t interested in holding them and would let them go as soon as he had the answers.Two women with Jordanian passports weren’t allowed to go through to work in Nablus because they didn’t have Palestinian ID cards. Under present conditions, they can’t get them and they were afraid to go to the District Co-ordinating Office (DCO) [the army section that handles civilian matters and usually has representatives at the checkpoints , ostensibly to alleviate the lot of the Palestiniains] lest that result in their being expelled. One had a little boy with her. We couldn’t manage to soften the soldiers’ hearts.R. tried to avoid us and was tough on the people waiting, and his attitude affected his men. From time to time they went over to the people in line and “disciplined” them. For example, if someone put a foot on the step at the beginning of the concrete area, the soldier M. would stop letting people through until the man concerned had moved his foot. The soldiers also approached the Palestinians with rifles at the ready and aimed. R. also went over to the line, shouted at people and pushed an elderly man who’d moved out of the line. When we commented that rifles were aimed all too easily, he dismissed us with a wave of the hand: “Nothing’s going to happen.”Ambulances are increasingly used at checkpoints. The sick with escorts and without passage permits were almost automatically diverted to ambulances. In this case, one escort was allowed to join the patients and the soldiers claimed that it was also free. Some found an alternative solution (for example, an escort with a passage permit). But there were some, such as an agitated father carrying a child burning with fever, who didn’t give up. After we interceded, he hitched a ride from an ambulance.09:40 — Qusin checkpoint When we arrived, the pressure was easing. Several taxis were detained at the gas station. It transpired that they were allowed to travel (if they had permits) only in specific sectors and on certain roads. L., the commander, began releasing them after four hours. He said that until several days ago, he could have confiscated vehicles for four days, but under a new regulation, the “punishment” is only four hours. The taxis and minibuses were crowded with passengers who’d just been checked at previous checkpoints. Why impose a collective punishment on them which is intended for the drivers?A new taxi arrived with the driver’s family, including several small children, inside . They were from the Jenin area. His permit was made out “for all checkpoints” How was he to know it was restricted to the Jenin area? The repeated claim of the soldiers in such situations is : “They know…” They called someone in the DCO and soon continued on their way.A passing settler saw us and immediately telephoned somebody. When we were already in the car, a woman settler arrived and shouted at us: “You’re trying to curry favor with the Arabs.”Beit Iba There were about 10 drivers here whose vehicles had been confiscated.An elderly father was clutching an envelope with medical test results: he’d been delayed because his son was not allowed through. The father was ready to return home, but the son’s ID details had been submitted for checking and the soldiers ordered him to wait. A teacher who said that he came through the checkpoint every day was also detained.The commander, A., negotiated with us about the length of detention. How will they learn, otherwise ? he asked. Shalva and Keren persuaded him and he agreed to release them at 11:00 instead of 12:00..