Az-Zawiya, Huwwara Thursday 3 March 2005 AMObservers: Naomi L., Dorit L., Michal S., and Osnat A. (reporting)Guest: Ursula V. colour=red>Az-ZawiyaWe left Kafr Kassem at 06.30 bound for Az-Zawiya which is some five minutes drive away if one takes [the Israelis-only] Road No.5. But we did not follow this road and so we reached the village a few minutes after 07:00 and at 07:30 we came to the roadblock at the edge of Mas-ha village.The detour we had to take[as the Palestinians must do] makes no sense and was an object lesson in the war of attrition on the roads – which have been set up by the decision makers against the local population.The road, if the pot-holed dirt track we drove on can be called a road, is the main road linking the surrounding villages to Ramallah.When we reached the roadblock there were seven vehicles from the direction of As-Zawiya to Ma-ha, a few vehicles also arrived from the other direction. Reserve soldiers checked documents and passes relatively quickly and pragmatically. We thought we would continue towards Ezran and from there to Sarra but when we reached the exit from Mas-ha one of the residents thought it would be better if we went back the way we came – and this is what we did.11.15 On the way back from Road No. 5: soldiers were standing at the roadblock but it was empty.08.50 — Tapuach JunctionThe traffic at the junction is slow. 37 vehicles wait to be checked from the direction of Huwwara. In our experience this means a wait of between one to two hours.On the way back the situation is gloomier. The junction is jammed and the number of vehicles is very large. Soldiers check documents in the middle of the queue of cars arriving from Huwwara. We are full of joy – they have found a way to speed things up. But no. The soldiers carry out checks both here and at the end, at the roadblock. How much harassment can there be? In the same place, 50 metres further on, another check. We waited an hour and a half and then we had to leave. Palestinian drivers in the queue had to wait about three hours to cross the roadblock.Of course, the soldiers claimed that there was a serious warning of an threatened terrorist attack. Every Thursday, at each roadblock I have attended since I started to be a watcher – the soldiers have always claimed that their behaviour was caused by a serious warning. And what do we want when we stir and inflame a burning pot?Junction of roads 57 (Huwarra) and 60 (Jit) — 09:00Immediately after the junction, in the direction of the Huwwara roadblock, there was an unannounced roadblock. This is not the first time that a roadblock is put up here. (It took us 20 minutes to cross the roadblock which leads – not to Israel but in the direction of Nablus. And here too, a few metres on, we reach the permanent Huwwara roadblock.) Even for those arriving from the other direction where they have just passed the checkpoint at the roadblock are stopped again here. (Why?) On the way back the roadblock moves to the other side of the road. Still on Road 57 but in the direction of the village Huwwara. The first description which springs to mind is “Blaumilch canal” [a reference to a satirical Israeli film of the 1950s]. The junction is jammed from every direction. Vehicles, including those of settlers too, are jammed. The soldier tries to move the stop sign and the spiked barrier forward a bit each time. Nothing helps. Patience.Huwwara South Pedestrians move through the checkpoint without checks. Vehicles are checked.Huwwara NorthThere is practically no one leaving from Nablus. We have no idea why. We contacted an acquaintance there and he reported that settlers had burned down four shops in the vicinity of the Joseph’s tomb. There was nothing about this in the Israeli news bulletins.The computer is not working. The number of those held up has grown from two to five despite the frequent efforts of the soldier who is trying to get hold of passes. The chain for the vehicles entering Nablus at the northern roadblock is still there and the soldier once again checks the documents. Why????? (Well, I do not really expect a logical answer.) But if there is someone up there, please….11.10 — MardaAt the entrance to the village from Road 5 there is an unannounced roadblock. There are no people.