Beit Iba, Saturday, 25.6.05, AMObservers: Inbal G, Nurit S (reporting)08:30-12:00) Summary: the pedestrian traffic was flowing, but there was a very long line of cars in both directions. On the way back we stopped at Anabta, there too was a long line of cars, especially for those coming out. Details: in the pedestrian lane traffic was flowing, women and children were let through with out being checked. Men (under 35) had to show identification. There were no detainees, besides three cases: 1) A 15 year old boy who tried to get through with no ID and was not allowed. Shortly afterwards he was caught trying to exit through the fields. He was told to wait in the detainees’ area. We tried to see if this was done as a means of punishing him (as we know that the soldiers are not supposed to punish civilians) but the soldiers claimed they were checking with their commander what should be done. 30 minutes later he was released. 2) 3 Israeli-Arab women from Tira (with a blue ID) who were leaving Nablus were stopped by the soldiers and were asked how they got in. the women explained they were trying to visit a dying relative in a village by Nablus and were accidentally brought into the city by a cab driver (probably through Huwwara). They claimed they were not aware that they were entering area A. The soldiers told the women that the police is on its way and they must wait there. 2.5 hours later they were released without ever seeing the police3) A young lady (an American English teacher, who volunteers in the occupied territories) with an American passport arrived at the checkpoint with a Palestinian woman and wanted to enter Nablus. She told the soldiers that she had entered before and was told it must have been a mistake. We called the DCO and talked to R., but he said he could not help us because those are the regulations. 4) A man tried to pass through the checkpoint, his number was erased from his ID (obviously on peruse). the soldiers said they know him and he is a trouble maker. they started checking his name with the GSS (shabak) and he was left in the detainees’ area. when we left after half an hour he was still there. The line of cars was very long and the movement was extremely slow, we were told by some of the drivers that they had been waiting for an hour and in some cases even an hour and a half. Emergencies such as ambulances, vehicles caring blood donations and so forth, passed the line and were let through quit easily. The whole time there were very few soldiers checking the cars, which was why things were going so slowly. We talked to the Humanitarian Line and they said they will check into it. By the time we left the line was indeed shorter. (we do not know if it had anything to do with our phone call, it was probably only because fewer cars arrived). On the way back we stopped at Anabta checkpoint which was manned by only 2 soldiers and an officer. The line of cars was very long from both directions and the drivers seemed upset. The soldiers were very polite and nice (both to us and to the people in the cars). They told us they have only enough people to stand on one side of the roadblock; therefore they spend a specific amount of time on each side and alternate after a while. We called the DCO and they said they would check in to it. When we left the line was still very long.