TULKARM, Monday 26 April 2004 AMObservers: Butzi, Osnat A., Naomi L., Tzvia S., Edna M.(reporting) colour =red>Memorial Day for those who have fallen in the defence of the State of Israel [was marked in the occupied territories by] “closure” and “encirclement” [imposing strict limitations on movement even between one Palestinian area and another.]06:45 — Irtah was totally deserted, with not a single person coming or going. One Israeli-Arab truck was waiting in vain for the gate to open.06:30 —at the Jubara checkpoint a school bus passed without delay. There was only sparse, but unimpeded traffic. Only a few pedestrians used the checkpoint at the Tulkarm entrance and exit. There were a few cabs on either side. The buses came down from Jubara before 07:00. Fifteen minutes later, two children who had missed the bus crossed the checkpoint on foot and boarded a cab bound for Ar-Rass. Agricultural workers (more numerous than usual) crossed to Jubara. We were pleasantly surprised at the relative ease with which they went through. Today of all days? How come? Gradually, inexplicably, the picture changed. A man who wanted to take vegetables from Jayyus to Tulkarm was denied permission. He enlisted the services of a truck driver from Tulkarm who had a permit. But at the checkpoint they ran into problems. The soldiers ordered the driver to go back. I intervened and offered to talk to the commander. The soldier deeply resented my undermining his authority. I apologized and appealed to the commander. After some more harassment, the truck was allowed through. Pleased, I watched it disappear, then apologized to the soldier for having argued in front of a Palestinian. I could have waited.More pedestrians and vehicles had lined up to go into Tulkarm. Many were rejected. We call the District Coordinating Office [the army section that deals with civilian matters] and 2nd Lt. A. (an Arabic speaking reservist) arrived. The checkpoint soldiers crowded him to prevent him from forming his own judgment. They continued to refuse permission to the people waiting : thus a student from An-Najah University in Nablus, scheduled to take part in a study tour of Tulkarm, and who had previously been approved by A., was now denied permission to proceed by the checkpoint commander. But when the soldiers were otherwise engaged and A. was by himself, he let people cross easily. Traffic from Tulkarm, including ambulances, went past smoothly. It became apparent that residents of other regions were being systematically refused passage. Why? This was still movement within the territories! A truck driver whose permit expired yesterday (and who must renew it at the Tulkarm DCO ) was refused passage. But he insisted on his right to go through the checkpoint , thus incurring the anger of the commander who forcibly removed him from the truck and took away his ID card. He also physically prevented him from talking to DCO representative. Again, we intervened, telling the checkpoint boss that he had no right to confiscate the man’s ID, and that he should refrain from using force. We telephoned the battalion to report the incident, and were promised immediate action. A., too, prompted by our requests, promised to make sure the man got his ID card back.08:50 — It was hot and the bulldozers [ busy building a new and “improved” checkpoint] were roaring. Cars driving along the dirt roads raised clouds of dust. It was frustrating to watch, again and again, how women with small children and elderly women were denied passage just because they weren’t residents of the area. The soldiers behaviour became harsher and ruder, and A. less and less effective. We tried getting K. of the DCO to come to the checkpoint, but he wasn’t in his office. People who had medical or dental appointments in Tulkarm were also denied permission to proceed. We called Physicians for Human Rights, but got no answer.Witnessing what goes on at the checkpoints is becoming more and more frustrating. We felt helpless to change the reality.09:15 – We left, hoping that the truck driver’s ID card would indeed be returned, as promised.