Beit Iba, Monday,1.8.05, PMObservers: Dorit H. and Yonah A. (reporting)14:45We stopped at Jubara, a few people were crossing the northern checkpoint without any delays, as well as a few cars in the direction of Israel. We continued on our way to Beit Iba. The traffic was light; no checkpoint at Anabta.15:20We reached the Beit Iba checkpoint. A few cars passing with no delay at the entrance to Nablus. A few people going in both directions.15:40A young man, detainee, sent to the detention shed. His name is on their list; checking. He is released after 15 minutes.16:00Two young men are detained for 2 minutes. When they are released, one of them says to us in Hebrew: “They do this every day.”The number of cars and people at the checkpoint increases. About 50 people standing in line at the turnstiles. When Dorit asks why there is no humanitarian line, the DCO answers that there is no need. One of the drivers in a car leaving Nablus says that he only waited for half an hour as opposed to 3 hours yesterday.16:15A girl is stuck in the turnstile. Repeated pressing on the button doesn’t release her. After a few minutes the checkpoint commander goes to the turnstile and succeeds in moving it with a few strong shoves.16:20A new soldier switches the one doing inspection of those entering Nablus. He is very thorough. He checks 60 year olds with the same attention as youths. No discounts. He asks a woman with 4 children to open her bag and he checks every item. He asks everyone: “Where are you going? Home? Where are you coming from? What did you do there?” If someone doesn’t understand, he tries in English. Looks at every piece of paper and every notebook. Doesn’t get tired. The previous soldier returns after 20 minutes and the thorough inspection ceases.16:45A few people pass. The soldiers play with the buttons and lock the turnstile for each person.16:50Mutlak, the taxi organizer, arrives and shakes the hands of all the soldiers. Even the serious checkpoint commander seems amused by his company.17:00A photographer and American journalist leave Nablus on their way to Tulkarm. His name is Tom Robinson. He tells us about a quiet demonstration which took place today in the village of Kifl Haris, next to Salfit. According to him, a young man of 27 was shot by a soldier through his mouth. Tom says that he photographed the soldier who was very proud of himself. Tom visited the youth at the Rafidiya hospital in Nablus and photographed him and his family. He has all the identifying information about the soldier and the youth who was shot and he intends to publish the story in the U.S. and report it to every congressman whom he knows. He gave us his email address and cell phone number, the name of the youth who ws shot, the details of a family member who speaks Hebrew, and the details of another journalist who was present during the whole incident. Tom had to get on the bus going to Tulkarm. We connected him with Dafna Banai and parted from him. It is hard to digest this whole story.17:45On the way to the car, the taxi drivers stopped us and told us that the passage from Shavey Shomron to Sebastia was closed. We didn’t encounter any roadblocks on the way to Azzun.