Beit Iba 28/3/2004 Watchers: Hava H., Angella G., Dorit N. (peace activist from Canada), Jacob P. (peace activist from US), Vivi S., Nina M. (reporting) Summary: Four temporary checkpoints on road 55/60, between Jitt junction and Beit Iba checkpoint. Extensive checking of all buses and other vehicles at Jitt junction. Beit Iba under command of DCO officer, major Ofer, was not crowded.Less tension than expected. We hesitated about going to Nablus area in the present situation. There was no feeling of danger or extra tension on our way to Beit Iba. As a precaution, we did not try to jump the long line of cars at the temporary checkpoints, but took our place at the end of the line, getting out of the Transit taxi and coordinating with the soldiers: two weeks ago, we had an unpleasant experience in east Jerusalem, when a Border Policeman told us that he could shoot us by mistake because we were jumping the lione in our “Arabic looking Transit”. Flying checkpoints. At around 8.00, we passed through a checkpoint near Sawiya (on road 60). An officer remembered us from Purim Saturday, when we stayed there for more than three hours, fighting to open movement there. Checking was only in the direction of Jerusalem, and included inspection of all IDs, while passengers were standing outside the buses. 8.30, Jitt junction. About 50-70 young men and one woman were detained, sitting on the ground. Some were waiting for two hours already. Amos, a tall lieutenant, explained that under the circumstances and in view of the “situation”, he stops every vehicle passing through the junction, and detains suspicious persons for GSS checking. We made many phone calls, and again we had positive and emphatic response from the department of IDF spokesperson (03 6080339). We explained that creating a big crowd of detainees is not security-wise. At the end, we reached Elad from the DCO. He arrived, and we saw him acting on our way back from Beit Iba at 11.45. There were no detainees but long lines of buses and other vehicles. People were checked similarly at Sawiya and Tapuah checkpoints, meaning long waiting in vehicles (at least 2 hours), taking men out of the buses and checking each ID but not through GSS checking. We wonder if this is an improvement in comparison to the “Amos method”. At least by the “Amos method” the “non suspected” persons moved on and the vehicle line was shorter. Beit Iba, 10.00-11.45. The presence of Ofer was felt everywhere. He was the decision-maker. There were a few detainees waiting 4 hours already. We met there some students whom we had seen previously at Jitt junction. It appeared that on Wednesday, 24/3, many student cards were confiscated, and the students could not enter because they did not have cards. Ofer allowed passage to some, but not to all. There was a case of a person whose brother’s ID was taken by a passing jeep near Einav (near Beit Iba) which is under Qalqilya DCO responsibility. After many phone calls and with the help of Kamil from Jubara, the lost ID was found at Jubara checkpoint. In general the soldiers from the Haruv battalion were decent, except for one female soldier with tongue red piercing, who was blunt and her behavior was vulgar. Quotation: ” We treat them, the Palestinians, well, give them water, and you won’t find me hitting them”. It was clear that her service at the checkpoint and the power she has over Palestinians make her life more meaningful. We spoke on the phone later to one of the detained students at Beit Iba, who wanted to go to his university in Nablus. He said that after we left, Ofer gave him back his ID and student card, and told him to go home to Tulkarm (after 5 hrs waiting). He advised him to try to enter Nablus again after the situation will improve. This particular student is a relative of an Intifada Martyr (shot by Israeli army). As we know from previous reports, these relatives of Intifada Martyrs are perceived as particularly dangerous because the army thinks they want to revenge the death of their relatives.