BEIT IBA, Tuesday 15 March 2005 PMObservers: Rachel B., Hannah C., Pitchiah A. (reporting)colour=red>14:00 – There were no unannounced roadblocks on the way to Beit Iba. 14:25 – A group of reserve soldiers were doing their job with (relatively) the least possible damage they could. Only young men were checked, other men ( not in the “forbidden” 16 to 30 age-group) and the women went through without being checked. There were three people in the detention shed – among them two Israeli Arabs who had been visiting Nablus without permission; according to the commander, they were now waiting for the [Israeli] police to deal with them. One of the detainees claimed that he need to get to a place where he could take a particular medicine as soon as possible, otherwise he would have to be hospitalized. The commander promised us that, if the police didn’t turn up within a certain time, they would release him. If we returned at 17:00, he said, they would no longer be detained.15:00- Shavei ShomronThere were no problems here. 15:10 – Jit Junction There was an unannounced roadblock here. 15:15 – Sarra checkpointThis is a dying checkpoint, the operative substitute being the checkpoint at Tell. Both junctions – according to the checkpoint commander at the junction – belong to the inner Nablus region and do not really allow of exit from the area. We were not permitted to enter the village of Sarra. 16:00 – We returned to Beit Iba. On the way to the checkpoint, a Palestinian told us that he was favorably surprised by the reservists presently manning the checkpoint. Tomorrow a group of conscripts is scheduled to take over. The detention shed was already empty.16:30 – We left.