Anabta-Jubara-Irtah, Sunday AM, June 18, 2006 Watchers: Racheli M., Rachel A. (reporting) Anabta 8:15-9:25 – only few are waiting in both directions. No restrictions on movement for Palestinians. Everyone can come and go in vehicles after a cursory, but rude, process of inspection. I admit that our conversations with soldiers at the checkpoint begin in an accusatory tone–theirs toward us– and end with a kind of understanding and an improvement on both sides (and this is already a second visit in a row, each time with a different group of soldiers). There are meticulous inspections of Israeli residents who wish to enter the Tulkarm area. They have to provide the soldier the reason for their entrance and also to show a photocopy of the ID card of a first-degree relative whom they are visiting. A large percentage of them don’t have such a document and therefore are forced to turn around and go back. Some are asked to leave the car at the checkpoint and enter by taxi. The soldier says that these are the orders. Israeli residents can enter only for the purpose of “family unification,” and not for other purposes such as commerce or anything else. Jubara We passed by the checkpoint on the way home. There wasn’t any traffic over there, except the soldiers who staff this site.IrtahThe cargo terminal is operating. Commercial vans are loading and unloading merchandise “back-to-back” [so that the vehicles, without permits, don’t cross the CP]. There’s little activity. At the pedestrian crossing there are buses waiting to transport families of inmates in Israeli prisons [in the regular, escorted arrangement], but the crossing area itself is empty. By now is late morning (10 AM).