9:15 – 06:15

We attempted to get here early, but as usual on hot days we were too late to observe people on their way to work. 

We crossed the Bezek Checkpoint at 06:15.
Alon Route 578 – The air is still cool in the early morning and there are shepherds with their flocks in the fields.

06:40 –Hamra Checkpoint – There is not a lot of traffic.  Most of the vehicles are taxis, not vehicles carrying workers.  People wave at us in greeting.  We left at 07:20.

Hamam Al Malick – Usually a few families live in the old buildings here, but the buildings and sheds are empty.

07:40 – Tayasir Checkpoint – The road leading to the checkpoint is empty.  Soldiers are sitting on chairs next to the position.  Few vehicles are driving through in either direction.  The wall surrounding the  pillbox has a banner that reads: "Welcome, Nachshon Battalion.  We asked the soldiers when things were busy in the morning and they reported that  it was very crowded at 03:00 or 04:00 in the morning.  They could not say when workers return from work in the industrial areas in the settlements. 

They are soldiers from the Shimshon Battalion and will be released soon.   We held a polite political discussion that began with an explanation about Machsom Watch and about our right to control the occupied territories.   We once again met with a lack of basic  knowledge of high school graduates from the center of the country.  We hope that after they are released they will continue to research questions that they dealt with as soldiers.   We left at 08:35.   

Aroad grader is repairing the sides of the road leading to the Tayasir Checkpoint.  The workers are being accompanied by a supervisor from the road construction company Netivei Yisrael.  The workers have taken a break for breakfast on the side of the road near Hamam Al Malikh.  We hope they are only repairing the road and not building a new settlement.   Several months ago it looked as if they were planning to do so.

09:00 – Bezek Checkpoint

The checkpoint was opened and we crossed.

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