Jubara, Ar-Ras, Anabta, Wednesday AM, 3 May 2006 Watchers: Nettie A, Elisheva A (reporting) Guest: Maayan A. Editor’s note: today is Israel’s Independence Day, a national holiday for which extra security precautions are in effect.]07:10 – Jubara The entry to the village is empty of civilians, and reinforced by two IDF reservist “seam line volunteers.” br>At the Schoolchildren’s Gate one of the bus drivers didn’t understand why an officer (named, according to him, Yitzhak Cohen) didn’t let him pass, and he was forced to travel by a circuitous route. I did not succeed in clarifying why…We descended to the Ar-Ras Checkpoint, where a shift was just changing, and was holding up the transit too long with people waiting on both sides – and not many at that.The closure and encirclement are being enforced.Age restrictions are in effect [i.e. passage prohibited to males ages 16-30]. Residents of Jenin can’t cross. Today students are also prevented.07:40 – At the entrance to Beit Lid, [the roadway is blocked by ] a high blockade. [Ed. note: further description not provided] A Humvee stands at the junction of Routes 57/60 and delays the passage of five taxis.09:15 – On our way back from Beit Iba [see separate report under Nablus] there is no checkpoint.09:20 – AnabtaNo pressure, and the soldiers are relaxed. A woman from Tulkarm is asking to go to the clinic in Nablus with a girl who looks to be about eight years old. After debate with the checkpoint commander, she is allowed to pass (although it can’t be assumed that she will succeed in passing Beit Iba).Jubara, on our way backAgain, no traffic.Does anybody know why they closed the large parking lot? After all, not everybody has close relations with Abu Hatem! [a local who helps the MachsomWatch teams].