Falamya north, Falamya south, Habla,

Many people crossing, to our surprise, even though it’s afternoon.  Huge quantities of za’atar are being brought in sacks from the fields in the seam zone, to market.  The gates open and close more or less on time.

12:30  Checkpoint 914, Falamya north.  Many people are already waiting on both sides of the checkpoint, on foot, on tractors and in pickup trucks loaded with sacks of za’atar.  The za’atar is picked in the fields, laid to dry and then bagged and brought to market.

At 12:35 the soldiers arrive and open the gates.  A man wants to cross from Falamya for only ten minutes; he’s allowed through first and we’re glad to see consideration given to a citizen.  Everyone crossing is smiling but complains about the occupation.  When our guest asked how they manage the reply was: “It’s already been ten years so we’re used to it.”  They line up and are inspected one at a time by the soldiers who have a computer in the car.  All those crossing are from Falamya and Kafr Jammal

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We leave as the gate is about to close and hurry via a detour to reach the south Falamya gate which is opened by the same soldiers who arrive by a shorter route along the fence.

13:35  Checkpoint 935, Falamya south.  The gate is already opened and relatively few people are crossing, all from Jayyus.  Most arrive on foot from the seam zone.  They aren’t able to go through with their cars, which remain at the checkpoint.  They come from far away – Jayyus, and from the gate have to walk for several more kilometers to reach their fields/groves near Jayyus, but this new gate has been opened far from Jayyus, for some reason, while the nearer one was taken out of commission so the villagers must drive a long distance to go through the gate and then walk a long distance back to their fields.  Whether it’s harassment or stupidity – only the gods of the army know.

13:55  The tomatoes have gone through the checkpoint and now travel to Jayyus which is visible in the distance on the hilltop.

Checkpoint 1393 Habla.  The checkpoint is open; the soldiers say it closes at 14:05.  Few people remain to cross and some had to run to get here on time, but everyone went through and the gate closed slightly late.

At 12:35 the soldiers arrive and open the gates.  A man wants to cross from Falamya for only ten minutes; he’s allowed through first and we’re glad to see consideration given to a citizen.  Everyone crossing is smiling but complains about the occupation.  When our guest asked how they manage the reply was: “It’s already been ten years so we’re used to it.”  They line up and are inspected one at a time by the soldiers who have a computer in the car.  All those crossing are from Falamya and Kafr Jammal

.

We leave as the gate is about to close and hurry via a detour to reach the south Falamya gate which is opened by the same soldiers who arrive by a shorter route along the fence.

13:35  Checkpoint 935, Falamya south.  The gate is already opened and relatively few people are crossing, all from Jayyus.  Most arrive on foot from the seam zone.  They aren’t able to go through with their cars, which remain at the checkpoint.  They come from far away – Jayyus, and from the gate have to walk for several more kilometers to reach their fields/groves near Jayyus, but this new gate has been opened far from Jayyus, for some reason, while the nearer one was taken out of commission so the villagers must drive a long distance to go through the gate and then walk a long distance back to their fields.  Whether it’s harassment or stupidity – only the gods of the army know.

13:55  The tomatoes have gone through the checkpoint and now travel to Jayyus which is visible in the distance on the hilltop.

Checkpoint 1393 Habla.  The checkpoint is open; the soldiers say it closes at 14:05.  Few people remain to cross and some had to run to get here on time, but everyone went through and the gate closed slightly late.