Beit Furiq, Saturday, 7.4.07, pmVivi Ts., Roni H. (reporting)Life under occupationBeit Fouriq and Beit Dajan, although located in the heart of the West Bank, are closed in like the enclaves in the seamline – Their residents can leave the village and return to it only through one checkpoint and Palestinians who are not residents of the 2 villages are forbidden entry. The exit in direction to the Jordan Valley is prohibited and closed and therefore nonresidents are not allowed to pass through the villages. Technical or medical teams can enter Beit Fouriq only with special permits and the same applies to relatives. The result of these restrictions is appaling in many respects.We have spent today one and a half hour at the checkpoint between 14:00 and 15:30. A very quiet time without the heavy traffic of the rush hours. Nevertheless the deep feeling of distress did not leave us for one moment (and not only because of the apocalyptic weather). The taxi drivers are confined to the route between the main street and the end of Beit Dajan, 10km back, 10km forth and all over again, like a walk in a prison yard. The fare is 2 Shekel. To cross the checkpoint into Nablus is not worthwhile for the taxis – the wait is much too long (up to 1 1/2 hours) and who pays for this time. Private cars of Beit Fouriq residents nevertheless have to cross sometimes. But as we heard of one of them, they can encounter unexpected difficulties. Our resident went 2 days ago with his 4 months little baby to the hospital in Nablus. When they came back it was 20:15. The checkpoint is supposed to be open till 21:00, but the soldier decided to close it ! exactly at the time our man has arrived there. He asked the soldier to let him return home and that he has a sick baby in the car. This was of no concern to the soldier. To end the argument, he pointed his gun into the car and then shot into the air. He locked the checkpoint and climbed up into the tower. There was no one around who could help. Our man waited in his car until 22:00. Then finally a jeep arrived and opened the checkpoint for the father of the baby. At last he could drive home. Another case of difficulties with the closing hour of the checkpoint we heard from a woman, whose son is in prison and every time she can visit him, she has a problem with coming home from Nablus. The bus that transports the families to the prison returns to Nablus only at about 22:00 or later. How is she supposed to get to Beit Fouriq at that time? She also has to wait until the army jeep arrives and is ready to open the checkpoint. And of course, ! there are no taxis waiting at this time of the day!Well, this is only a tiny slice of life under occupation.