Translation:  Suzanne O.

We decided to visit as many villages as possible today, Saturday, time on our hands, to talk to people and to get to know the area.

Hagar L's details of the route were very helpful.

Azun Atma roadblock

10:20 a.m. 

There are 2 soldiers in the outer position, one in the inspection room.  In answer to our question we were told that the roadblock opens on Saturday from 4:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., as on every other day.  2 women go through, take out their papers and show them, and within a minute they are out.  A youth with a boy of 3 goes in and within 2 minutes comes out again.  They were going to the grocer's via the roadblock… when he came out I asked what they had bought and the boy, with heartbreaking obedience, opened the bag and showed me – some kind of sweet.  I though about my son, who is the same age, who with the natural cheek of a youngster would probably have answered, "it's none of your business what I bought".  Here, however, the youngsters are not cheeky.

Back to Road No.5, eastwards, we crossed to Road No. 446 and from there to the road leading to the Palestinian villages Brokin, Kfar a Dik.  We went into a grocery store, gave out clothes, introduced ourselves, gave out visiting cards. at Dir Balut junction roadblock, there was a soldier in the watch tower but cars are not stopped for inspection.  We continued on north to Rafach, Mischa, Bidia.  We stopped for a falafel and talked a little to the people.  Again we gave out visiting cards and again heard stories about various people refused entry.

We continued on to Chars and from there on the freeway to Huwwara.

Anabta

2:00 p.m. 

There are no inspections.  There is a soldier in the watch tower.

Kafriat/Te'enim roadblock

3:20 p.m. 

There is a queue of 30 cars with Israeli number plates.  The inspection is very slow.  Small children congregate around the cars and try to sell us sweets.  We buy some and then simply give money to each one but then again give, give, and it does not stop.  A bad feeling.

It took us about 40 minutes to cross this roadblock and to enter Israeli territory.