Huwwara, Monday 1.5.2006 PMObservers: Edna K. Sarah K. (reporting)Natanya translating. Closure and severe limitations of movement. Even those who manage to move on the roads wait in long linge checkpoint after checkpoint. The increasing pressure leads to more anger and frustration on the part of the Palestinians. We can meet with the policy of delay as punishment for deviation from the rules.14.45 Za’atara (Tapuach) CP. A line of 15 cars from west to east and the checking is exceedingly slow. 15 cars from north to south. All 3 posts are manned and there is a humanitarian line. Waiting time of about 15 minutes.A detainee the checkpoint has been there for two hours because he tried to bypass. The commander “promises” that he will be there at least another two hours. He tells us not to stand on the island but on the side of the checkpoint.An ambulance arrives with the alarm going and blinking lights. He has a seriously ill patient but the soldiers insist on careful checking.New to the checkpoint and the length of the road settlers have put up two signs. “We do not celebrate Independance day of 2006” A young settler woman of 18 tells us that we had better get away from the checkpoint if we do not want her to puncture our car. When we explain to her that we have no intention of moving and that if she tries to do so we will photograph her and use it as evidence for a complaint she crosses the road and waits for her transport.15.15 -We wait for a reply from the DCO about the detainee and also from the Humanitarian centre. From the south thre are now 8 cars and the checking is slightly faster.15.30 -The cars waiting are still in the same state but the checking is reasonable.We leave and stay in contact with the detainee who is freed after 16.0015.45 Hawarra checkpoint.No line of cars. In spite of the closure on Nablus there are 10s of pedestrians waiting behind the turnstiles. The checking only takes place between the turnstiles. The same soldiers check bodily, ids and parcels. The checking is very slow. A detainee says he has been there for two hours and says each day he is detained and then allowed to pass16.00 -The humanitarian line is opened and there are many women with children and elderly people and the line quickly shortens. The checking is very slow and soon there is a again a along line of those waiting . Very few cars in either direction.16.30 -On the way to Beit Furik at the crossroads which join the checkpoint Awarta to the village three trucks wait and a commercial car and next to them a Hummer. It seems that they tried to turn right at Awarta on a part of the road meant only for Jews and therefore as punishment they are being detained….three hours already, The soldiers claim it is the order of the brigade commander.the drivers say that this is anot the first time that they have shortened their journey in this way. Otherwise they have to bypass and go more kilometers so as to get to the checkpoint of Awarta and Hawarra. Never before have the soldiers stopped them. The Humanitarian centre says that they will check. The DCO does not answer at all. After half an hour we phoned Carmela Menashe asking her to check with the brigade.17.15 -We go on to Beit Furik and keep contact with the detainees. Few cars and pedestrians. At Beit Furik there is closure and only a few people arrive from Nablus. They can enter…one way. The Taxi drivers say that there had been a charger on the road and since thenthere is a closure on the village. People from Beit Degan pass freely.17.40 -We go back in the direction of Hawarra and find to our pleasure that both the trucks and the Hummer have disappeared. At Hawarra there are 7 detainees who have been there since 16.30 so they say. One of them is very ill. He has a hernia and a high fever. One of the soldiers, a nurse checks and says the man is truly ill. They did not check before. It appears that they are from Jenin on their way to hospital at Ramallah. They arrived in a taxi and all the passengers are detained. In the beginning the commander tells them to take a taxi or an ambulance but after a few minutes he allows the man and two people to accompany him and to go on in the same taxi.We meet them later at the checkpoint of Yizhar where they were again detained for a few minutes and then allowed to go on. The others have to return to Nablus. The Palestinians say that the way to Jenin is shorter through the crossroad of Yizhar and at the exit from Nablus they will not be allowed to pass so they are stuck. People from Jenin are not allowed to go south and they are sent back. Art the checkpoint is a humanitarian line but the line is long and again we see women waiting a long time for their families, their men and the checking is very slow.18.15 -At the crossroad of Yizhar are 24 cars most of which have just been checked at Hawarra. We found taxis with Palestinians who had been delayed for three hours. It seems they got tried of waiting and tried to bypass on a dust road next to the factory of blocks on the side of the road. There an army car was waiting and their ids taken and they were sent to the side to wait. Another example of the policy of punishment which has become the rule. A car with the symbol of the red cross is also waiting and the driver says that he was on his way to Nablus to take the director of the hospital to an emergency operation. He phones the director in our presence and asks the commander to speak to him. In the beginning the commander drives him away but eventuallygives in and allows him on his way. And so that we should not forget the coming holiday the soldiers hang the national flag up…to our honour.18.40 -On the way back at Zatara are more than 10 cars in both directions.