Tarqumiya, Sunday, AM, 5/3/06Observers, Ya’el Shefi, Aviva Weisgal (reporting)We arrived at 6 AM, and a long line was awaiting us. (We will try to come earlier next week.) There were hundreds, and the line flowed slowly. Many were there from 4AM. The workers stressed that when we were there, the line moves faster and more efficiently. This goes for the afternoon shift as well. They stressed that this c.p. is not the first one on their way to work, and might not be the last one. The soldiers advanced the line at a pace of “Chamsa-Chamsa” for awhile, and after about 10 minutes of that, organize the checking in a different way, and the workers were allowed to pass at a steady pace. They were ordered to open their jackets and food bags. One man, who apparently didn’t hear the order, had his i.d. card taken for a check, but the man said that he thought he was being punished. When I asked the soldier about this, he refused to answer my question, and just repeated that he was doing a routine check. I told this soldier that this man could be his grandfather, but it didn’t seem to have any effect on him. His face was covered with a scarf, so it was hard to see any reaction on his face. After all of the workers passed through, I asked the commanding officer if this man had been punished for not opening his jacket, and she replied that they decide on different criterion each time that they check people. Sometimes they check everyone with a hat on, sometimes according to the color of their shoes…. this because they can’t do a check on every ones i.d. and permits.At 7 AM everyone had passed through, but many (about 70), were waiting for a lift. The transits didn’t wait for them. One man told me that the soldiers have them stand in a straight line, and force them off of the road. If they don’t stand that way, sometimes they hit them. In the afternoon, they are given a hard time as well. They asked me for my cell no. in case of problems. On my way home, I stopped to see those very people that I photographed, and who had complained of numerous checks on their way, getting checked again!