Za’atara, Beit Furik, Awarta, HawwaraMonday, 24.10.05, amObservers: Anneline K., Ada H. (reporting)06:20 Zita – this is the second week that the road to and from the village is blocked. A Palestinian from Marda tells us that there is a checkpoint at the internal exit from the village, with detainees and great chaos.06:30 Za’atara – again soldiers are stationed in a position at the end of Route 5 approaching Za’atara, but no vehicles are waiting there. The place is deserted and empty.On the way out to Ramallah, two very young soldiers are checking. The number of cars waiting in line fluctuates, mostly taxis waiting. The transit is relatively fast. Busses are also going through without checks. A private car is turned back and a truck, the driver and passenger of which are residents of Ramallah and they are also turned back. According to the soldiers, only humanitarian cases are let through today and the roads are preserved for Israeli traffic only! The soldiers are behaving well with the Palestinians, detaining no one, and one of them – an Arabic speaker – explains the daily orders patiently and politely – for a change, it must be noted.07:20 Beit Furik – taxi drivers say that the gate was opened on time today and is working well.A lot of people waiting to go to Beit Furik. The check is very brief and the line is finished within minutes. Same goes for the vehicles in both directions.The humanitarian position for this place is on a hill, blocked by a long drinking fountain. Who does that serve?08:00 Awarta – two paratroopers manning each position – incoming and outward from the village. They are passing people through quickly, and the lines are not long. A large sign in Arabic on the approaches announces that the checkpoint will close today at 13:30 like Friday, and tomorrow it will be closed all day. The checkpoint commander is also noting that to everyone as they pass.Two Palestinians tell us that they (36-year old truck owners) are prohibited by the Shabak. They can cross the checkpoint on foot, but without their trucks (I did not exactly understand why men prohibited by the Shabak are allowed to pass, but they insisted that it was so). They said that, to pass the truck through they have to hire a driver with a Shabak permit and pay him for moving their vehicle (I have their names and other details).A truck driver from Umm el-Fahm says that his journey to Awarta was without problems because the truck was empty, but when he returns north, loaded with furniture from Awarta, there are problems at every checkpoint: either they detain him for hours and check his cargo, or they send him to another checkpoint, where the whole story begins again. It’s not only time, but also expensive fuel that he burns in unnecessary cirles.A driver of a “Shomron Seagull” truck – Israeli with a heavy Russian accent – is arguing with the soldiers about why he has to stand in line, and why they want his ID card – it’s like a prison…On the concrete block in front of the position stands a tin can full of blue identity cards.08:50 Huwwara – on the way we saw many men, who had passed from Nablus, threading their belts through their trouser loops. Strange sight…The checkpoint opened at 05:00 and will close at 23:00, but opens for humanitarian cases between those hours.A bus coming out of Nablus is checked. The passengers disembark and a dog is led on board. Their belongings are taken down and examined. The process takes six minutes. Taxis and private cars are passing through with a quick check of IDsSergeant A. is managing the checkpoint efficiently, with considerable care for his soldiers, but manifestly lacking in friendliness. People going into Nablus are not being examined.Outward from Nablus, there are two positions between the turnstiles. The soldiers are checking.Those who are standing on the other side of the concrete divider (a security measure) are removing their belts before walking through the magnometer. Beyond the turnstiles are three examination positions but they are also operating quickly and efficiently.10:10 Za’atara – a line of cars, mostly taxis. Oleg is on the checkpoint. It’s moving quickly. On the west side, not one single Palestinian car is waiting at the manned post.