Beit Iba, Tuesday, 9.5.2006, PMObservers: Fatchia I. Horit H”P, Racheli B”A, Hana C. (reporting)Natanya translating. 14.30 Entrance to the checkpoint. Three taxi drivers complain that their IDs have been confiscated by the soldiers because when their passengers opened their doors and started to alight, they did not obey the command to drive on immediately. The “centre” said that this was a usual occurrence and that IDs were checked by the secret service (why not?) and at 15.00 the IDs were returned. At the checkpoint itself only a few people (holidays for the students). The commander, second lieutenant R. took pains to show us that he stood on his right to remain silent and showed us his back the entire time that we were on the spot. 15.20 A slight pressure of people at the turnstiles and no humanitarian line. Another taxi driver arrived whose ID had been taken by a soldier in an army jeep and the commander returned it to him. 15.50 The soldiers obey the orders that have just come in and do not let any car without a permit through. Also a doctor who lives in the village next to Shave Shomron and another man who is attached to a medical team are not allowed to return to their homes. One of them says that he entered with the permission of a soldier but the commander decides that he is lying but this is checked with the soldier and is not so. Only after the “centre” and Dalia Bassa intervene do the soldiers give in and they are allowed to pass. Later it turns out that even a permit does not always allow a person through and then again only after Dalia Bassa intervenes is a driver of a truck with milk for the hospital in Tulkarm allowed to pass even though he has the necessary permit.The owner of a handcart who has a magnetic card is not allowed to pass. The Humanitarian Centre does not send a representative to the area…they tell us time and again that they have no one to send…they say that there is no need for a permit and they do not give them. The soldiers demand a permit and will not allow him to pass. A soldier says that Abu-Chashish, the wagon driver, has asked them not to allow them through. The DCO and the brigade will not help and the owners of the handcarts are not allowed to pass. 17.45 We left. 19.00 45 cars wait for two hours at a rolling checkpoint next to the gas station between Beit Iba and the crossroads of Jit.