Huwwara, Za’atra, Beit furik & AwartaMonday, 19.12.05, AMObservers: Orly P., Annelien K., Ada H., Miky F. ( Reporting ) 07.50 Za’atra Junc. – Separation routine does not allow Jenin and Tul Karem residents traveling to Hebron and beyond. 16-35 year old men from Nablus and surrounding are also prevented from reaching Ramalla.At the new C.P. between Nablus and the road to Ramalla there are 3 car lanes – time spent at the C.P. has shortened. A 25 year old villager from Beta prevented from crossing despite Tasrich proving he is an infrastructure worker. D. from the DCO con not help him as he is not part of the humanitarian group of physicians and teachers.A 21 year old man on the way to Jordan whence he is to travel to take a position in one of the Gulf states. He carries proof of his job and an airline ticket but he is unable to cross because of his age. Ada talks with one person from the DCO and with Hana B. However the man decided to wait for the answer from the DCO, and it is not clear whether it would be affirmative.On 09.15 the age limit was lifted and he crossed.10 young men who crossed the Beit Iba c.p. on their way to Ramalla and no one has told them about the limitation orders in Zaatra, were not let through. One of them told us :”this is how Israel produces terrorists!”.08.30 – We approached the C.P. facing east on route 5 and were shocked – 80 cars were waiting in line. Only 3 soldiers were checking both cars and pedestrians. Phone calls to D. at the DCO were answered by him that the DCO representative Y. was on site but we could not find him anywhere. Orly call division headquarters and spoke with S., deputy division commander telling him the situation at Zaatra was not good and asked him to take care of it urgently.A group of female students arriving from Jenin could not cross to Ramalla. People on a bus from Dir Balut said they had left there at 06.30. They said the road from Dir Balut to Dick was blocked, trying to do through Raffat and Shukba, both blocked as well. They waited at the Dir Balut and then at Zaatra for another hour.09.00 – Finally reinforcements arrive from division and 2 lanes were opened. The officer joined the checking to expedite. The soldiers checked I.D. cards and let people through. We felt they were uncomfortable with the situation and some apologized to the Palestinians stating they had no choice in the matter. 09.30 – Sudden C.P. at the Izhar junction. 27 cars waiting. Orly called G. who said this will be a permanent C.P. and is vital from a security standpoint. We saw no detainees.09.40 Huwwara South – A border guard car stops a truck on the Beit Furik road using a loudspeaker. The driver was warned and released. Al during our shift they bothered people using the loudspeaker, stating it was used for keeping order among the crossing pedestrians. They shouted to the pedestrians in Arabic to use only the marked trail and not the asphalt road. We complained to G and he said he did not think they had any reason to be there either. We complained to the border patrol spokeswoman but it did not help either. Only at 11.30 did they leave.09.50 Huwwara North – Very few pedestrians in both directions.U., the C.P. commander shows us a poster in Arabic explaining to the Palestinians the daily limitations, this to make things easier for both the Palestinians and the soldiers. A well made up young lady was harassed by the soldiers asking her where She was from, where the make up was from. We told U. who made them stop. The check ups continued to be demeaning, including lifting the shirts, removing belts etc. A man on the road supported by a walker is stopped by a soldier returning him to the carousel, then becoming obvious he is unable to cross with the walker through the carousel and he is returned to the road. When the number of crossers rose, additional lines were opened, one for women and one for the elderly. The soldiers took pains to show us they were not harassing the Palestinians and shoed us how they arranged for an 80 year old man to have a ride in a car so as not to have to cross all the way in foot.We have asked the C.P. commander why he did not open another line for the cars coming out of Nablus to which he pulled up his immediate mantra, that there was a warning in force about a car bomb, and there for only one line was kept open. Phoning the other side of the C.P. he was informed only 6 cars were waiting to cross, and related the information to us.We went to see what was going on and the bus passengers told us they have been waiting for an hour and 15 minutes. We addressed the responsible M.P. there and he immediately opened an additional line for vehicles.10.15 – An Israeli car arrived carrying a Greek Orthodox priest from the Jerusalem Diocese . The soldiers allowed them to cross only on foot.Y. tried to help but was not successful and they indeed had to continue to Nablus on foot.10.40 – The soldiers are looking for something to do, as they are not enough crossers, and bother one claiming his I.D. is forged. We asked why they were not consulting with Y. They did not reply, but 5 minutes later they did, and he cleared it. Who knows what goes on there when neither the DCO nor us are there…We have complained about that to G., the Devision spokesman, and also Y.’s complaint that soldiers were letting through doctors cars with Tasrich, but not cars of international organizations even when he tells them they must do it by C.P. orders. G. promised to redress the matter.11.15 – We have left the C.P., the border patrol stopped their harassment game and have left as well.11.35 – Zaatra – No cars waiting from Nablus. On the west side only 2 cars waiting.Two of us (Annelien K. and Ada H. ) left to do to the C.P.s at Beit Furik and Awarrta.09.45 Beit Furik – The C.P. is empty, very few people crossing, not through the carousels, also very few cars crossing. According to the soldiers present there are no restrictions or limitations at this time. The soldiers at the other end of the C.P. said it was opened on time today and that there were no problems.10.25 Awarta – Relatively few trucks unloading and passing loads. The laborers complain there is too little work because of the C.P.s and blockades and the living conditions for them and their families are becoming even harder. ——————————————————————————–