BEIT IBA, Monday 9 August 2004 AMObservers: Rachel A., Nina S., Etti G. (guest), Herzliya E. (reporting) colour = red>07:25 — Beit IbaThe checkpoint had opened at 06:30; we found the soldiers relatively polite and passage seemed fast.There were a few detainees, but they were not held for long; when we arrived about 10 of them were there complaining they’d been waiting for two hours, but when thesoldier asked them: “Who’s been here for two hours?” there was no answer. They were allsent on their way by 07:45 [this was after their ID details had been sent for cross-checking to the General Security Services (GSS aka the Shabak or Shin Bet) which determines whether they appear on a list of security suspects — this check can take a very long time — in this case it did not]. One man, who said he wanted to visit his sick mother inNablus, was refused permission to go through. The District Co-ordinating office representative, N., justified his refusal by claiming that many Palestinians invoke the sickness of close kin as a reason for going to Nablus even though they have no permit and may be on a banned list [the DCO is the army section that deals with civilian matters; it usually has representatives at the checkpoints, ostensibly to alleviate the lot of the Palestinians].Students, who for various reasons wanted to get to An-Najah university, werelet through, some immediately and others after appeal to the DCO representative. Wefelt that our presence perhaps softened the soldiers’ attitudes somewhat.A Palestinian policeman from Deir Sharaf, holding a very young baby in his arms, was trying hard to get through claiming that the infant needed medical attention. The soldiers were adamant that they would not to let him pass: they said he had frequently used the baby as an excuse and that all he wanted to do was to go shopping. The man stood there for a very long time hoping that the soldiers would relent and saying that he could not afford to acquire the relevant permit [ it has to be applied for at the local DCO, a process that can cost several lost working days, and it must also be stamped – and the stamps cost what may be a considerable amount for people on low incomes ]. After he had been given a long explanation,in Arabic, from the DCO representative, he gave up, and called his wife, who had gone through before him with another child and was now waiting for himfurther away. He handed her the baby and she went off to Nablus, while he left the checkpoint, presumably for home?A Qalqiliya man , born in Nablus, was also not let through. He toldus that the bus on which he’d travelled to Beit Iba had gone through no less than four road-blocks on the way.As we left, taxi drivers came to us complaining that although they had valid licences, they’d been stopped for hours at Shavei Shomron ; so at 09:40 we decided to leave Beit Iba and go and see for ourselves.09:45 — Shavei ShomronThe checkpoint was closed when we go there . On both sides there were cars waiting, with more arriving all the time. At the side of the road stood a car and two men who’d been stopped for a check on their identities or on the car’s papers. The soldiers were having their breakfast break — all three of them at the same time — and didn’t want to be disturbed . Nevertheless, they did agree to answer our questions. But we got no answer to our first question as to why the checkpoint was closed! Why were the two men in the car detained? Because the police has to check them – and no more than that. 10:10 — AnabtaThe gate was closed [this has generally been an unmanned checkpoint, the road being blocked to through traffic ] : buses and cars were waiting on both sides and a vendor brewing coffee had set up business under a tree.