JUBARA, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, 10. 02. 04 Observers: G, D, DL, AD, RB-A and NM. We split into two groups– one going to Jubara and the other to the Irtah Gate Important: We noticed that there was a line of some 25 trucks waiting at the Irtah Gate to load and unload on the back-to-back system. The whole structure simply does not work. We suggest that each Machsomwatch shift here should include this spot in their observations and should count the number of trucks waiting on line, so that if the situation persists we can make a written complaint to the army.The Children’s Gate. The gate was opened at 12.45 midday for a small group of children. A big group came along at 13:00, but the jeep with the soldiers in it sped away claiming that they had been called to deal with some shooting incident. Two of us stayed on and saw the jeep return with the soldiers to open the gate at 13:20 and again at 13:45. It is clear that there is no real regularity to the times when the children cross through the fence and all those involved are confused. Jubara Checkpoint A very nervous atmosphere, heavy traffic and a great deal of noise from the construction work alongside. At the Irtah Gate there is the same group of reservists who have replaced the regular Nahshon brigade soldiers. The reservists could easily become honorary citizens of Helm (the famous Hassidic city of the absurd, cf. Gotham), with an extra dose of vulgarity. Two of them demanded that one of the youngsters who works as a porter with a donkey and cart should clean up the donkey’s droppings along the road to Tulkarm because they don’t like the smell. But the checkpoint commander dissuaded them from pushing the point after we intervened. A number of Israeli citizens who wanted to get back to their homes in Taibeh and who had approached the checkpoint from the Tulkarm direction were not allowed through , since the army claimed they needed permits for this. An Israeli woman carrying some parcels was sent to the Irtah Gate since “that is where they check parcels!” The wise men of Helm indeed!