‘Awarta, ‘Azzun ‘Atma, Za’tara (Tapuah), Tue 20.7.10, Morning
Central region checkpoints, Tuesday, 20.7.20, morning
Observers (with Nadim): Nurit Wagner and Yael Peled (reporting)
Translator: Charles K.
We were in the field for about an hour and a half, perhaps a little longer. We drove via Azzun Atma to Hars and back onto Route 5 at the grandiose plaza at the entrance to Ariel. We continued via Za’tara junction to Huwwara.
From what used to be a checkpoint we continued via Awarta to Huwara and back home on Route 5.
Everything was very quiet. Minimal military presence everywhere, and even those few pretty much have nothing to do. The inhabitants of Azzun Atma with whom we spoke said, “So-so, sometimes good and sometimes not so good; today is OK.” No checkpoint at Hars (the checkpoint hasn’t been removed but it’s always open and there aren’t any soldiers there). The same at the exit from Kifl Hars opposite Ariel. Light traffic in the villages; it’s school vacation there also, and everything’s lethargic. The checkpoints at Marda-Zeita were removed some time ago; it’s as if all the checkpoints never existed. Not one car on line at Za’tara junction. Few soldiers, everything flowed, almost the same scene when we returned and saw a group of laborers in the parking lot on their way back to a car (apparently after it had been inspected); otherwise, nothing was happening.
On the way to Huwara we saw no military vehicles whatsoever. Only in Huwara, after we parked in the huge, deserted parking lot two soldiers immediately approached us with self-important expressions on their faces, asked what we were doing and forbade Nurit from photographing the deserted area. “Military area,” that is. (Unfortunately, we didn’t have with us the document permitting us to photograph) A truck arrived, the driver asked how to get to some place, the soldier showed him the way on the holy Madison route, and after I asked him to check because they’ll stop the driver when he gets there he called someone and then directed him to a road through Huwara on which he was allowed to drive. It’s a good thing we already know more than the soldiers do – after all, we have more experience and seniority here…
'Awarta
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Awarta, an internal checkpoint in the heart of the West Bank, is located east of the Hawara checkpoint, at the junction of Roads 555 (which was forbidden for Palestinian traffic in this area) and the entrance road to Nablus. It was one of the four checkpoints that surrounded Nablus until 2009. We used to watch it at Huwwara shifts because it was the only one where goods could be transferred to and from Nablus, using the back-to-back method. It was operated by the army, from 06:00 to 20:00. Until 2009.
Ronit Dahan-RamatiApr-23-2026Awarta Checkpoint is empty
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'Azzun 'Atma
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'Azzun 'Atma
A Palestinian village of about 1,800 residents. The settlement of Sha'arei Tikva was established on its land adjacent to it, and the settlement of Oranit was established on its agricultural lands. By 2013, the separation fence had passed through the village and a checkpoint staffed by the army allowed the residents to cross from side to side. After building a massive wall surrounding the village and some of its agricultural lands, the residents went daily for five years to their lands that remained in the Seam Zone through the Oranit agricultural checkpoint (4). Since 2018 it has only opened during the olive harvest and the farmers have to pass daily at the Beit Amin / Abu Salman checkpoint (1447), about 3 kilometers north.From a report from March 24, 2021: "The farmers from Beit Amin and Azon Atma are happy that since February 21 the Oranit checkpoint .is going to be open 3 times a day, The farmers are really developing the place."
Report from July 14, 2024: "Ornit checkpoint is closed . The Beit Amin/Abu Salman agricultural checkpoint is closed (there is no contact with the military to check if it opens rarely), the Ezbat Jaloud checkpoint was opened once a day before the war.
Updated for July 2024
Apr-11-2019Azoun: The main entrance to village blocked now for several weeks
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Za'tara (Tapuah)
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Za'tara (Tapuah) Za'tara is an internal checkpoint in the heart of the West Bank, at the intersection of Road 60 and Road 505 (Trans-Samaria), east of the Tapuah settlement. This checkpoint is the "border" marked by the IDF between the north and south of the West Bank, in accordance with the policy of separation between the two parts of the West Bank that has been in place since December 2005. At the Za'tara checkpoint, there are separate routes for Israelis and Palestinians. In the route for Israelis, there are no inspections and the route for Palestinians inspects. The queue lengthens and shortens suits. The checkpoint is open 24 hours a day. The checkpoint is partially staffed and the people who pass through it are checked at random.
Ronit Dahan-RamatiJun-9-2026Za'atara (Tapuach Junction). The Temple Flag Above a Station
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