Anabta, Monday PM, 22 May 2006 Watchers: Niva D., Tziona S. (reporting) Summary: The general impression is that people are less and less able to move around, make a living or study. Like a noose around their neck the apartness policy prevents any opportunities for even a meagre income, that was previously just about manageable. 13:30 As we pass the lower road in Jubara the taxi drivers standing there complain of lack of income, as they cannot enter the southern gate. One of them lives 300 meters away from the checkpoint but has to enter via Anabta, making a huge detour to reach his home…13:40 At the entrance to Anabta there are almost no vehicles, only taxis. Drivers coming from Beit Lid, Shufa and Sarafin are allowed to enter Anabta, others wait at the checkpoint for the rare pedestrian that might need their services. At the checkpoint the soldiers are tense, the commander is shouting, not listening to requests- some of the people, amongst them some very elderly people are sent back to Tulkarm, as are some of the cars. We do not manage to understand according to what commands things are done. As the soldiers are reluctant to speak to us, we turn to the Humanitarian Centre [that acts as an ombudsman for cases of suspected discrimination]. Maybe they can help us understand what is going on. After fifteen minutes S. returns to us with the reply that this morning in Anabta some explosives were found, hence the mess. Actually no one knows what the instructions are. 14:00 A driver from East Jerusalem arrives as he does everyday to deliver post. He does not want to enter, but stands at the checkpoint and explains to the commander in a gentle way that he wants to see if his post has been collected. The checkpoint commander sends him away: ‘Do you think you are the landlords here?’ The man is humiliated and he retreats muttering; “So you want peace like this? How can there be peace?’ A group of people, of various ages, stand there with their papers in hand, about 6 meters from the checkpoint and wait quietly to be called. However, the distance is not to the commanders liking and he shouts at them rudely. “All move to the tree, (which is an extra three meters away) and as no one rushes to obey he shouts; ‘No one passes. Get yourselves over to the right.’ 15:00 A sand-filled lorry of an Israeli driver gets near the checkpoint. The driver has a valid permit, issued by the Ministry of Defence, to enter Tulkarm. He is sent to (Irtah) checkpoint 700. But, he says, he has just arrived from checkpoint 700, currently being manned by civilian security company which claimed they are not allowed to let people with Ministry of Defence permits in and sent him to Anabta. The commander at Anabta sends him to Irtah. We call the number on the permit itself. The reply is: ‘but he has a permit to go in through checkpoint 700- what is the problem?’ He is still not allowed in. The matter is being settled over three hours. Our phone calls do not manage to speed things up in any way. After three hours the driver gives up and returns home- another work day wasted…Next morning I call the Ministry of Defence and I get referred to the ‘passages unit’. There I am being told that they only allow the passage of Israeli workers of a cement plant owned by a certain Sabi Ashi. ‘And what about the valid permit signed by an officer at the Ministry of Defence and held by the man we met yesterday- did he slip between the nets?’ I answer. The man at the other end just laughs ‘No one slips between the nets. We ruined your paradise’. Finally, the driver will try obtaining a permit for another checkpoint through another contractor. But what a strange story.