Hamra, Tayasir, Monday, 13.2.06 PM Observers and reporters: Anina K, Revital S, Yehudit H 13:45 Hamra “G-d is the king,” “Brave Warriors” – two new slogans painted on the checkpoint. “The checkpoints must be decorated, so they’re beautiful…” says one of the three soldiers. He is interested in talking to us, but suddenly another soldier materialises and gives him an order: “Don’t talk to them!” He obeys and moves away.Cars are coming from both directions, from the Jiftlik to Tubas and from Tubas to the Jiftlik. Everyone gets out and lines up by threes. In answer to our question as to whether this is a new procedure: “No! It’s easier to count them…” (Till now, they had been in a single line). The check is brisk and to the point. 14:00 – a number of military vehicles arrive, with many soldiers including the company commander. Nachshon S. is friendly and interested in talking to us. He explains his security conception for the checkpoint (already known to us). During the conversation, he waves approaching cars through without a check. He says that he knows all of them. 14:30 – the commander and his troops move off, and we are left with the three that won’t relate to us. The check of IDs is now being done differently to what we have seen in the past. The soldier does not accept the cards into his hands, but shows by hand gestures and nods of the head that they are to be laid on the concrete partition. He checks then signals to the owner to take the ID. There is no transfer from hand to hand as had been the case. The soldiers are relaxed and even even haughty, and their attitude to the Palestinians is contemptuous and arrogant. 15:00 Tayasir waiting, and the workmen sprawled on the rocks around the checkpoint in total depression. They say they have been waiting two hours already. A bus arrives with 51 labourers who get off and line up in threes. Two soldiers are manning the checkpoint. One points his gun at the people while the other checks IDs. These people cross here every day. They know the soldiers, and are known to them, but the embarrassing performance repeats every day. In the morning they go to work in Beit Haarava and Naama, through Hamra, where they pass quickly because their employers make sure they get to work on time. When they return home, who cares how long they have to wait? “Today this is the worst checkpoint,” says one man from another bus. In talking to him, it becomes clear that they work seven hours a day for 60 shekels. Some of them send regards to DB.A bus comes out from the base, and one of the soldiers spits at the man passing over the IDs, who is waiting patiently for the prolonged check to finish. The rest of the soldiers scream at us. “Shame on you, shame for the People of Israel. This is a modern state?” says the waiting man with great pain. We felt as though they had also spat on us.Meanwhile, cars are piling up in both directions.The checks are so prolonged that we could no longer bear the slow pace and, in despair, we phone the brigade commander. There is a slight change, and the base commander suddenly arrives. He opens with the usual introduction: “The checkpoint is protecting you, your families and the whole People of Israel…” Then he orders us not to talk to the Palestinians while they are being checked, because it interferes with operational activity. A few days ago, some youths were caught here with knives and weapons…The strange thing to us is that the IDs are being checked, but not the cars or people, as if the weapons are inside the ID cards. But, from now on the check moves faster. 16:40 – we leave with heavy hearts and great depression.