Beit Iba, Wednesday, 24.5.06 AMObservers: Elisheva, Nati. Rina Z (reporting) Guests: Ruthi and Serge from CanadaJunction Routes 56/60 08:35 – alongside the junction, in the direction of Beit Iba, in the field, six taxis alongside a military Hummer. The taxis had tried to bypass the blocked road in the direction of Jenin (Shavei Shomron Checkpoint) and were caught by the Hummer. When we returned at 10:00, we saw them standing in the same place, and people coming out of them to walk in the direction of the road. Beit Iba 08:40 – 09:40 – regular passage of pedestrians and vehicles. Women and older people passing almost without a check at the entry to Nablus. Few vehicles – only the holders of special permits can drive through, including taxis and busses. Exit from Nablus prohibited for ages 15-30 and for residents of a number of villages that are under closure (“the military policeman has the list”). Few people coming out of Nablus. No DCO representative.When we arrived, there were two detainees in the compound. One of them “made a fuss and raised a hand to a soldier,” and the other because he tried to bypass. The first was released after 25 minutes (he said he was there since 07:00). The second was released after 50 minutes. 09:15 – another detainee, a young resident of Jenin. He is getting special treatment: the checkpoint commander is searching his body and bag (a few books and notebooks). He sits him in a corner and places a soldier to watch over him. We are sorry that we didn’t take details from him. The commander says “he is something serious,” and is on the phone all the time. He is released after 20 minutes. 09:25 – two more detainees. Taxi drivers. The regular “tax.” Three porters, whom the checkpoint commander has forbidden to work, thereby depriving them of their livelihood, have been trying for a week, every day in every way, to get the decree cancelled. We are helpless. The commander, who only allows owners of carts to work, contends that he has no supervision over them. Why on them not, and on the owners of carts – yes? All their livelihood is dependent on the whim of each checkpoint commander. A taxi driver from Jenin complains that he cannot make a living. Jenin is already subject to closure for quite a few months. The entry points north of Nablus, at Al Badhan and Ashira ash-Samaliya are closed. Route 60 through Shavei Shomron is blocked. He has no choice but to carry people on improvised dirt tracks, and even this is uncertain (as we saw at the junction of 56/60). He has five children at home… This is life under the occupation regime. Esthi T, who was doing a tour for visitors, arrived at Beit Iba at 12:00, reported that there were five detainees, owners of vehicles, who had tried to bypass the checkpoint on their way to the factory on the hill in the direction of Quosin. They were brought on foot to the checkpoint, their IDs and keys were taken from them. After a while they were released. Shavei Shomron 09:50 no passage except military vehicles or people who have a permit from the army. A truck with a “humanitarian pass for encirclement” has to get to Ashira ash-Samaliya, further down the road. He is sent back, and the soldier does not have the first idea how it can reach its destination.