Beit Iba, Monday, 2.1.2006, PMObservers: Yonah A, Ziona S. (reporting)Za’atara crossroads 14.25 We find a driver of a freezer transit who says that he comes from Beit Jala and belongs to a firm which delivers food to the West Bank. He is denied access to Anabta and since 12.00 has been waiting for a permit. As we are phoning the DCO an army jeep comes up with a captain and a soldier and tell him to pass. They tell us that there is a very hot alarm that a terrorist is on his way from Tulkarm so all the entrances and exits are closed. But he says that that is no reason to deny an entire population their food supply and therefore the vehicle with its milk products is allowed to cross. Beit Iba15.00 The road there is practically deserted. An elderly man, very dignified, asks us what is the matter with the soldiers that they do not allow the young woman students to return home after their studies. He says he tried to help a young girl who was sent back to Nablus but the soldier started shouting at him and he left. 15.10 4 detainees. One asks for water and the soldier says Ok but soon after that three of them are freed. The soldiers are tense, hostile and very nervous. We ask who the commander is and one says that he is and immediately tells us that we are interfering with their work and to stand in the corner. We ask about the woman students and he says he does not have to tell us. He says he knows us already from Qalandiya. Yona says to him “I could be your grandmother. Is this how you would talk to her” and he replies “To my grandmother no …to you yes. Stand where I tell you. I know the rules. If you do not do so I will call the police.” In the meantime another soldier arrives who says that is the commander and that if we have any questions we should turn to him. And he was the one who then gave the soldiers their orders. At this checkpoint the entire week two soldiers have claimed that they are the commanders. He says that he has a list of villages who can be visited from Beit Iba. The others have to go to Nablus and go through Ahsmael or Ein Bidan, We could not find it on the map and the commander also did not know where it was. He says that the girls know and that they are only pretending. What is the sense in it that they should make a detour of 3,4 miles. He says that is the order he got from the DCO the previous day. 15.30 We phone D. …no reply. Battalion commander at Beit Iba…the centre says it will pass on the message and return to us. At 15.35 Yona phones the DCO. Ben says he knows of no such order and if we want a reply to phone him again. 15.50 we phone the Brigade Lieutenant . the centre says they will check/. 16.00 we phone Ben who says that he knows there is such an order but it is not logical and they are checking. 16.05 We phone the lieutenant again but he does not get back to us. In other words everyone promises and no one comes through. 16.15 The girls give up and go back to Nablus. Only one detainee left. An Arab Israeli from Tira who married a man from Nablus two months previously. This is the second time she has visited him and now the police have been summoned but she does not seem particularly worried….as if she knew what was awaiting her when she married someone from the occupied territories. 16.05 At the entrance to Nablus 15 people, mainly elderly and one with a white beard. The commander orders the soldier to shorten his checking. In the meantime he shouts “Hello Hello, backwards, warah (back). They retreat and stand in line. “Go further backwards” he shouts and I am filled with shame.