BEIT IBA, Monday 2 August 2004 AMObservers: Ronny S., Naomi L., Nina S. (reporting), and guest colour=red>07:30 – The checkpoint routine was proceeding calmly. There were many pedestrians, the soldiers worked rapidly, but they did not allow students through and were not willing to have the General Security Services (GSS) check [the students’ ID details against a central list of security suspects]. Women, children and the elderly went through easily. The young were checked. Bags were checked no matter in what direction their owners were travelling..There was no water or shade for people waiting their turn to be examined at the checking posts. Detainees did have shelter and were also provided with benches. There were four of them who said they’d been there one or two hours [waiting for the GSS to provide security clearance before the soldiers would return their ID cards to them]. We interceded and they were released half an hour later. A teacher who jumped the lime was detained for an hour as a punishment. There was a special line for women, but since it was not clearly sign-posted, they were not always aware of the fact. But the soldiers claimed they did know – if that was really so, then why, we asked ourselves, did the women stand in the long, slow men’s line. A young man arrived who was shot a week ago: his papers were not complete and he’s been a student for too many years (he took a two-year break and had a document to confirm it). He contacted one of our colleagues who talked to Naomi, who then explained to the checkpoint commander who he was and he was allowed through at once. Students wanting to register at university or to take exams faced many problems. At 09:50, the checkpoint commander, Lieutenant H, appeared and suddenly the students wanting to register were all permitted to go through! The District Co-ordinating Office explained to the commander that entry and exit alike are permitted to students Wednesdays and Saturdays. The checkpoint commander himself claimed [as we have always believed] that entry to Nablus (where An-Najah, the largest university in the Occupied Territories is situated] was permitted only on Saturdays, and exit only on Wednesdays. A colleague of ours, Esti T, who’d arrived leading a tour for new volunteers, was dealing with the problem of a woman without papers.10.00 — We drove through Anabta: the iron barrier was closed. The people went round or under it to continue their journeys._