Beit Iba, Wednesday, 14/09/05, PMObservers: Biria L., Sara F., Deborah LWe were at Beit Iba from 2:00PM-5:30PM. The main problem today was that only one turnstile could be turned electronically. Even when the number of pedestrians increased to approximately 200 people, it was decided not to use any other turnstile. Although we have often seen turnstiles being used even when they move freely and not electronically, this was not a choice that was made at Beit Iba. As a result, men and women, old and young were forced to funnel into one turnstile. People were crushed against each other trying to hold on to their place. At one point, when the officer decided that another turnstile was absolutely necessary, he stood at the side and let the non-electric turnstile turn in order to let a few people go by. To control the amount of people passing through he stopped the turning of the turnstile with the help of a huge triangular wedge made out of three long metal poles.The officer would allow a few people through and then in order to stop the turning he would abruptly force the metal wedge through the bars of the turnstile in front of the next person in line.We made calls to G., the Spokesman of the Machat; D. from the Humanitarian Center of the Army; and Z., Border Police officer, but nothing was done to change the situation. Gil told us that it was a problem they knew about and it would take till the end of the week to fix. O. from the DCO was there at the checkpoint and he said he has complained to the DCO but nothing has been done. According to a letter sent out by Nomi this morning, this has been going on all week. It took people from 15 to 25 minutes, according to our check, to pass through depending on how talented they were at holding on to their place. Two soldiers checked ID’s and one person checked bags. We were not able to speak to the officer of the checkpoint (he said his name is “Soldier”) about anything. He kept asking us “what exactly is your role here” and he made it clear that no matter how we saw things,” his word was the last word.” There were a few people who came up to the officer as humanitarian cases to be let through without going through the line. He did not let a man with a young baby in his arms pass. He sent him back to the end of the line. He did let a couple through where the wife was obviously very sick. The man showed a doctors note, x-rays and the woman was pale, frail and coughing. He let a very large middle-aged woman carrying a huge rolled up mattress and pillows pass through as well as a family of 5 children and a man with a number of suitcases in hand.Detainees: There were 13 detainees who were all students from Azzun. They were all released at 4:06PM . Several of them had been there from 2:36PM. We called the Humanitarian Center several times about this but to no avail. At 4:16PM 2 Israeli Arab women students were detained. The officer claimed he called the police and when we left at 5:30PM, the police still had not come. We left our phone number with the women. There were two more detainees held as we were leaving. Vehicle Line: The vehicle line to Nablus didn’t take more then 20 minutes. The line from Nablus started off by taking 40 minutes (2:20PM–3:00PM) and then went down to 20 minutes(3:21PM–3:43PM)(4:04PM–4:26PM).Special Cases: There was a doctor who works in Nablus and lives in Qalqilyia who says he usually passes through with his car without a problem but today and yesterday he was not allowed to return home. We had him speak to Oleg. It seems there were some discrepancies in the spelling of his name on his medical identification versus his green ID. They let him pass this time since Qalqilyia is not considered a dangerous place but he will have to get a new medical ID card.A UN worker had his ID, which was no longer valid, taken away on Monday. When he went to the UN agency to get a new one they wanted his old one bank. He had come to the checkpoint to ask for the old card back. It was no where to be found. The Officer said it is gone. O. from the DCO said he would have people at the base look for it.When one of the soldiers from the Yeshiva unit was asked him how he would feel if he had to be pushed in with men and women together as was the case today, he said that it was not right and should not be done. He told us he was the soldier who had talked to the Health Ministry about the increase of asthma attacks of soldiers at Beit Iba. Spending so many hours surrounded by the dust of the quarry effects the lungs.On our way out the driver of the wagon and donkey who passes through the checkpoint through out the day, told us that at 7:00AM this morning he saw the army blowing up the water tank, electric poles and other things at the settlement of Homesh.