Beit Iba, Tuesday, 18.10.05,PMObservers: Horit H-P., Kineret, Ada R. (reporting)Summary: In regard to the bare facts, an ordinary shift, no special events. Few people, few vehicles, quite a few checkpoint and roadblocks; behavior of the soldiers varied between pleasant and restrained. Went out with N. at 13:40 in the direction of Beit Iba. At the exit from Nebi Elias, to the north, a BP jeep was standing and recording the numbers of the licenses of every passing vehicle. They are not stopped.At Azun Junction there is a jeep or “Hummer”, in a threatening position, seeming to wait for some reinforcements in order to block the passage. On the way, one passes conspicuous signs meant only for the Lords of the Road, the Jews. But, since there has been a High Court decision on the matter, they are also written in Arabic…That is to say, the Palestinians are informed concerning the Jewish settlements, but not concerning the way to their own settlements to which they might perhaps want to travel. At Karnei Shomron, the Arabic has been erased by a demonic hand…At the Jit Junction there is a moveable checkpoint with 3-4 cars, mainly taxis and buses waiting. The road is totally blocked, a “Hummer” stands facing Beit Iba. Vehicles which were stopped at the checkpoint were coming from the opposite direction. So the whole road is blocked. The reason is that the soldiers are chatting, those in the ‘Hummer” with those on the road. N. warns us not to annoy them, correctly. We stand and wait, they have time…After a while, one of them on the road says, “Those are the WomenWatch” and the vehicle begins to move and open the way, while the soldiers call out to us “Happy Holiday” and we respond, “Also to you”.Beit Iba – 14:15The checkpoint commander and two representatives from the DCO; one of them, the responsible one, is Y., a nice guy, patient, behaves nicely towards us and his friends. Correct treatment of the Palestinians. Horit points out that they must have participated in “politeness” workshops, to change their image at the checkpoints. He asks us if we are not mistaken, as there were already Machsom Watch women in the morning, and we answered that we have 2 shifts a day, plus other observers….it is as though they are trying to turn the checkpoints into something normal, acceptable, part of the “landscape”, insignificant….The way in and out of Nablus is open, probably since there are not many travellers on such a day…No line, everyone goes through, quick inspections – in accord with the GSS list – one detainee whose ID was not acceptable to the soldiers, no stamp on the picture, perhaps forged. The youth works as a cleaner in the DCO, he says, and the stamp is faded as it is old. The soldiers call the police – we don’t know why – they could have checked at the DCO. Everything is done quietly, politely. At our suggestion, they call the DCO and receive an OK on him, but it is too late, the police have arrived. They don’t come up to the checkpoint, but they take the youth in a squad car, from which he is released in a few minutes. Why a blue police car? He isn’t an Israeli citizen! I asked them and they said that those are the orders. I ask why, they know he isn’t wanted by the GSS, his identity was checked and he has nothing to do with the Israeli police. If he has unpaid fines of some sort, he would be arrested despite his ID. First, A. answered me, “so let him pay!” Then he said, “I was just joking”. He talks with the DCO again and sends 2 soldiers with the youth for the meeting with the police, since MachsomWatch is there watching that nothing is done incorrectly, since the permanent checkpoints are undergoing face-lifting and public relations We leave for Huwwara.