South Hebron CP, Hebron, Tarqumiya; Wed. 25.1.06Reporting Observers: Leah S., Shlomit T., Michal T. Rachel N., Dana L., Chaya H., Ilana L., Tsafrira A., Edna S. Hagit B. Anat S. Susan S. and I’, the driver. Palestinian Elections9:00 – 13;00Rarmadin CP, south of Daharia. Leah S & Shlomit T. (reporting)Movement takes place by car, which wait in line, circa 100m away from the checkpoint. When the signal appears from a soldier waving his hand, the first car approaches to about 10 m. and the driver with the collected identity cards from his passengers, comes for permission. Any unsolicited remarks from him get an “educational” lecture from a soldier. The traffic flows – as long as the soldiers remember to wave a hand for inviting the next car. Sometimes a long time elapses, the soldiers are busy among themselves and forget the people who wait.Even 2 hours later – no change. Though the soldiers try to be polite under our eagle eyes, every now and then, something nasty comes through – a remark about a passport-photo, about the old car, about things that could be hidden there.Our heart goes out to the young soldiers for the pointless, frustrating work, the boredom, the loss of trust among human beings. Dura – El Pawar: Observers: Michal T. Rachel N. (reporting)Lively traffic, many cars with Palestinian license plates; at times Israeli Police cars pass by. Only the pillbox at the junction is manned – as though trying to minimize their presence. At the junction, a gas station and restaurant are not working.Everyone is nice to us today: Palestinians honk their horns and wave their hand in greeting, the Israeli authorities stop for a chat with us.And in praise of Hagit B’s work: soldiers in a Hummer on a “routine” check, with whom we had a long conversation about the occupation and its repercussions; they asked for – and received – our MW materials.The soldiers treated us to hot tea, and worried about our safety.It didn’t help. The cold was freezing and we called for the car to rescue us.Sheep’s Junction. Observing reporters: Chaya H. , Dana L. Apparently, it was Sheep’s Day … all was quiet and pedestrians crossed in both directions without mishap. At some stage, a police car arrived in an unsuccessful attempt to catch a motor-cycle thief with a “Pizza Domino” sign — no such branch in the West bank; we had an optimistic talk with the policemen and some Hamas voters. At 10:55 a Hummer arrived and arrested a number of boisterous Palestinians and confiscated their Fatah scarves. The soldiers said, they had had orders but were clearly embarrassed by our insistence that no such orders were given and that a scarf should not be defined as “provocative material” (as they arrogantly claimed). They made a hasty departure when we threatened to contact a higher authority and took 2 soldiers with pointed guns, who had suddenly appeared on the hills, with them. The car’s license number: 703811.Apart from disturbances from bored Palestinian youngsters with nothing to do,who were later chased away by someone older – nothing special happened, so we could “enjoy” the cold. Shiyukh- Hebron ( the girl’s school) Observers Tsafrira, A., Elena L (reporting).10:00 -12:30There were no soldiers and very few pedestrians about. We talked to the taxi drivers waiting for customers on the Shiyukh side- one of them showed us his inky finger as evidence that he had already cast his vote. It was bitterly cold and we were invited into a nearby barber’s shop where about 8 men were drinking tea. We sat there chatting for about half an hour. At about 10:45 an ambulance drew up at the Shiyukh side of Route 60 and an old woman bent almost double, and obviously frail, got out of it. Supported by a male companion, she tottered through the barrier to a taxi. She was probably on her way home. But for the barrier the ambulance would have taken her directly there and she would not have had to change vehicles. At 11:00 a family (a mother and several children) who had taken pity on us, because we were obviously freezing, invited us into their home (opposite the barber shop, and therefore also near the barrier). We spent a very pleasant hour drinking tea and coffee and chatting in a mixture of English and Arabic. The mother told us she had often seen MW women about but had been too shy to come and talk to us. On our way back to route 60 to wait for the car, a middle aged man informed us that the only proper thing was to vote for Hamas since they were God fearing and that he was sure they would make peace because they only wanted what was good for the people. “Believe me!” he said in English. “Inshallah”, we replied. Tarkumia- Idna Junction. Observers: Susan S., & Anat S. (reporting)11:30The place was relatively deserted. We stood under the Observation Tower, manned by a number of soldiers but no connection was formed between us. It looked like a festive day. Occasionally, Palestinian cars with many election signs passed and greeted us. Every now and then, when we asked who they were going to vote for, the answer was Fatah and Hamas.On the whole it was quite boring. I don’t doubt, the presence of many observers brought quiet elections and I was pleased that we too, had contributed to this. We’ll see what happens with the surprising results.Mobile Shift, Observers: Edna S. and Hagit B. (reporting)All surprise checkpoints on Route 60 and Road 35 were taken down.In general, not much traffic – no Palestinian taxis – and very few cars.Hebron The entrance is through Kiriat Arba. We see many posters “Save Amuna”, etc.And of course, the orange color. There are also invitations to a lecture in the local Cultural Center; the topic: “The Secret War Against The Settlers”We enter without problem, walk along the ‘Prayers’ Road” – deserted, except for a few Palestinian children playing marbles … they are on holiday. Near the Patriarch’s Cave checkpoint – 2 policemen – freezing with cold – no one around. At the parking lot, it turns out Ibrahim, our driver, hasn’t been allowed to exit Hebron to Kiriat Arba, in the direction of Route 60 – the sentry said an Arab alone cannot cross Kiriat Arba. Ibrahim doesn’t want to complain and we can’t do that in his name.We continue the rest of our tour in the car.No voting booths in Area 2H. Today, at the Tel Romeida checkpoint, people go through without any problem – only there aren’t any people in the street. Opposite the Romano House, 2 police cars, they park there 24 hrs a day. Opposite Gross Square, 2 military jeeps with high-level army personnel who are filming (maybe planning the next evacuation) Opposite the retail market, another 2 blue police cars – and where are the Palestinians?The gray gate by the Kassba checkpoint is chain-locked – impossible to get through – the Kassba looks deserted today. The Pharmacy checkpoint, very few people; small children carry water in jugs and I wonder if lack of rain has caused a drought, and why there are no pipes and how come all this terrible neglect. A young woman goes home through the checkpoint, to the Abu Sanaan neighborhood and was glad to see us. We meet international observers there, .on their way to the 1H area – 2 Canadians, a woman from New York and 2 Japanese – very interesting conversation develops – and suddenly a surprise: A Moslem family from South Africa, they wander through Hebron with an East Jerusalem taxi driver. He’s not going to vote and complains bitterly to Edna about how hard it is to earn a living as a taxi driver – what with the innumerable checkpoints.Hebron is always depressing and today even more – so many people used to live there and today they have to vote far from home.The village and tolling booth at Bailey Village.We stopped off at Kfar Dir Rasa, hoping to meet our friend N. – he wasn’t there, and nor was the booth which is in another village nearby, a kilometer away. We did meet N.’s cousin who was happy to see us. He was on his way to vote and joined us – it was nice walking and seeing the cyclamen. He tells us everyone in the Palestinian Authority wants peace. He grows potatoes but can’t sell them in the Hebron market – he can’t take them on foot and is not permitted to travel on Route 60. He has 11 children, 4 in Saudi Arabia – they work and send money home – otherwise, he couldn’t make a living.We arrive at the village – at the school run by UNNRA – the UN flag flying high.Everyone there was so pleased to see us… a real democratic feast. By the booth, circa 100 people are handing out explanatory materials, giving scarves, smoking nargilot – the booth secretary comes out and talks with us – he says he’s not allowed to see how people vote – voting is secret. Everyone is relieved there are no checkpoints today, but there are blockages. Children surround us on all sides and want to take photos and be photographed – I think they haven’t met Israelis before. Older people ask us what we think of Hamas – they ask about Sharon’s health – a local candidate asked to be photographed with us. On one hand, the feeling was veryfestive and on the other hand, that we had missed something – peace might have been here – judging solely by the welcome we received – and how far away it all seems, and also because of us.We were given Fatah and Hamas scarves as a memento, and went down to Route 60.One of the children ran behind us and asked for kisses … Edna gave him one.