Huwwara 14 May 2006 Watchers: Yael B., and Ditza Y.HuwwaraThe roadblock works in its usual way but the little help that we were able to offer the Palestinians decreases even more. When the turnstiles were moved away from the lock-up, the detainees were put into a cubicle near the cell, to the north of it, and we can no longer get to it.7:30 a.m.At the crossroads, near Marda, a “mini roadblock” stopped four Palestinian employees on their way to work in Ramallah ‘for a routine check’. After a short time they were picked up by a bus which, as it went on its way, picked up additional passengers.Za’atra7:45 a.m. There are no vehicles in the direction of Shomron. At the northern exit there is a bus at the roadblock. Its passengers are taken off and a dog inspects it. The passengers complain bitterly at the long time they have spent at the roadblocks up to now. Their version: two hours – an hour and a half – an hour at Huwwara and an hour, half an hour, at Yitzhar.7:55 a.m.At least the inspection here is quick; the passengers get back on the bus and continue their journey.There are 25 vehicles in the northerly queue.Yitzhar8:10 a.m. There are about 20 cars in the queue at the roadblock.Huwwara8:20 a.m. The ‘separation’ continues and no one between the ages of 16 and 30 is permitted to leave Nablus.There are about 60 people at the turnstiles, two checkpoints and a humanitarian queue. The inspections are long drawn out and slow.8:30 a.m.We approach A., the DCO representative, according to him it is not possible to open another checkpoint, there are not enough soldiers.There is one detainee – he is released within a few minutes.8:35 a.m.There are eight vehicles in the queue from Nablus. From time to time a car comes to go into Nablus.Near the roadblock a Palestinian, whose ID card has been taken, wanders around after he was caught driving on the Awarta-Huwwara road which is only for the “lords of the land”. It turns out that, according to him, he has already been there for two hours; an hour and a half according to R., the roadblock commander. The soldiers say that a chase ensued after he refused to stop when soldiers signalled him to stop. He explains that he was not aware that Palestinians are not permitted on that road, there is no sign denoting the prohibition.About 8:40 a.m.Our approach to the DCO representative about the driver does not help. According to him it is not in his remit to do anything about it.9:00 a.m.A taxi driver, who, according to the soldiers, suddenly drove almost up to the checkpoint, is arrested and put into the cubicle beside the cell and we are unable to reach him. In answer to our question the roadblock commander says that conditions are fine in the cubicle, better than the lock-up. But we are unable to check it out.9:20 a.m.We contacted the humanitarian centre regarding the driver who used the Lords’ road. They claim that they are unable to help, but suggest that if he is kept for much longer we should contact them again.A bus carrying children is inspected. The children are taken off it.9:40 a.m.After a 20 minute inspection the bus resumes its journey.9:50 a.m.A driver from Beit Furiq who came to the roadblock tells us that yesterday, at 7:00 p.m., he and another driver wanted to cross the Beit Furiq roadblock. The soldiers detained them and told them straight away that they could only cross at 8:00 p.m. He does not understand why and, of course, the reason was not explained to him. At 8:00 p.m. they were allowed to cross the roadblock.10:05 a.m.A supplier of medical goods is not permitted to enter Nablus with his vehicle, however, after we talk to the DCO representative and he intervened, he was allowed to go on his way.Education Ministry employees want to get to Nablus to sort out matriculation examinations in the town – their permit ran out two days ago and they were forced to retrace their tracks.10:10 a.m.Another call to the humanitarian centre regarding the Palestinian who has now been held up for over three hours – they promise to check the matter out. We turn again to the DCO representative. He makes a telephone, to the DCO we assume, but does not report his call to us.Beit Furiq10:20 a.m. Very light traffic of both pedestrians and vehicles.We tried to find out about the drivers who were held up yesterday for an hour without an obvious reason – the soldiers (a different shift) don’t know anything about it.10:40 a.m.We returned to Huwwara. The driver who had driven from Awarta to Huwwara had been released.10:55 a.m.A van from Nablus is being inspected. We approach its passengers who have been taken off; they tell us that they have been waiting for an hour and a half (and the inspection has not yet been completed).We leave the roadblock.