Beit Iba

Summary

Believe it or not, there really is an internet site called The Mother

of All Excuses Place. We wonder if the Occupiers of the Palestinian

Territories make use of this site, with enough changes to make its

name less politically correct for this macho part of the world. At

each and every checkpoint that we monitor and document, we hear

excuses for just about everything. Today's shift proved no exception.

Jit Junction 13:35 

No checkpoint, as we've already been told in Nabil Elias.

Beit Iba 14:00 

A "Zelda" (APC) pointing in the direction of Nablus, soldier poking

his head from the turret, gun in hand, stands on the far side of the

checkpoint. A high wire fence is being built, separating pedestrian

from vehicular traffic. Two turnstiles stand where pedestrians are to

be checked in the future. A bit of research into advertisements

for "pedestrian control needs" recommend plenty of "turnstiles to

solve your access control problems." But even "full security

turnstiles" have arms of 60 cms at a minimum. These that the

occupier puts up for Palestinians are no more than 45 cms.

Few people can squeeze through such a turnstile. Another disgrace in

the making.

Once again, there are a great many soldiers at Beit Iba. The invasion

of privacy continues unabated with two soldiers at the checking

table, burrowing into every bag or briefcase coming out of Nablus.

Even the shopping bags of young mothers with unhappy looking toddlers

at their side, on their way into Nablus, are thoroughly gone over.

Six soldiers at the central pedestrian checking area, and four

checking vehicles, oh so slowly. Happily, there aren't that many

vehicles to check, but, once again, the regular porter's cart is

thoroughly gone through (office supplies)! Pedestrians flow through

in a steady stream although only two of the three turnstiles are at

work . People going into the city and people exiting it have to pass

each other on the same walkway – until the building work is

completed. None going on today.

Of course, we're told, gratuitously, as there's no white line in

sight, or nowhere to stand in its vicinity, "Would you stand behind

the line please?"