Huwwara
Huwwara Monday 3.1.05 AMObservers: Shuli H., Shira G., Orly P., Tal H. (reporting)On our way, as early as the turnoff to Ariel, the army has blocked the main no. 5 highway to all traffic and we are detoured through Ariel. Exiting Ariel (Rechelim Juntion) we are allowed to proceed to Tapuach Junction after identifying ourselves as Machsomwatch. Tapuach/Zaatra Junction full of waiting traffic in all directions. Settler cars are not really moving. Only later do we find out about the army acting to remove an outpost in Yitzhar (?) and preventing free traffic in order to make it more difficult for the settlers to make life difficult for the army etc…Huwwara South 9:50 –No waiting line, one detainee waiting with his friend because he got “smart” with the soldiers. First came without ID, later with, things aren’t really clear and the soldiers don’t help clarify them. We continue to the North CP, intending to get back to the South CP in a while to see about the detainee.Huwwara North –Pedestrian traffic moving along “nicely”, but through the turnstiles, and with constant ID checks through computer but everything runs relatively smoothly.Over the CP a new shining Israeli flag flies proud, flanked on both sides by the red and white rattlesnake insignia-flag of the paratroopers division.(We are informed by the always smiling, dimpled O., Cp commander. We should ask the Palestinians, he chirps. They know best.)Back to the South CP – the two detained fellows have been released to go home. Not allowed to proceed to Nablus. Now everyone’s IDs are being checked, but without turnstiles. Moving along briskly. Cars are checked meticulously, and passed on.Two tourists – a Canadian and an American – wish to enter Nablus. Not allowed. DCO does not help. Must arrange permits through their embassies. In the meanwhile… A fellow without a special permit is held waiting, his ID lying on the concrete wall. Shuli watches. 5 minutes go by. Nothing happens. She asks the soldier. He claims to be busy with the tourists (who are busy telephoning), promises to get back to it when free. Then he is free. Shuli keeps watching. Quietly. Now it’s time for chocolate milk. And more time goes by. And Shuli watches. Finally. The soldier calls O., the North CP commander. Reports ID number for checkup. Gets clearance. Releases the guy. “for everything there is a season and a time for every purpose” under one’s helmet.On our way back – 20 vehicles waiting to be checked at Tapuach Junction,southbound.
Huwwara
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The Huwwara checkpoint is an internal checkpoint south of the city of Nablus, at the intersection of Roads 60 and 5077 (between the settlements of Bracha and Itamar). This checkpoint was one of the four permanent checkpoints that closed on Nablus (Beit Furik and Awarta checkpoints to the east and the Beit Iba checkpoint to the west). It was a pedestrian-only barrier. As MachsomWatch volunteers, we watched therre since 2001 two shifts a day - morning and noon, the thousands of Palestinians leaving Nablus and waiting for hours in queues to reach anywhere else in the West Bank, from the other side of the checkpoint the destination could only be reached by public transport. In early June 2009, as part of the easing of Palestinian traffic in the West Bank, the checkpoint was opened to vehicular traffic. The passage was free, with occasional military presence in the guard tower. Also, there were vehicle inspections from time to time. Since the massacre on 7.10.2023, the checkpoint has been closed to Palestinians.
On February 26, 2023, about 400 settlers attacked the town's residents for 5 hours and set fire to property, such as houses and cars. Disturbances occurred in response to a shooting of two Jewish residents of Har Bracha by a Palestinian Terrorist. The soldiers stationed in the town did not prevent the arson and rescued Palestinian families from their homes only after they were set on fire. No one was punished and Finance Minister Smotrich stated that "the State of Israel should wipe out Hawara." Left and center organizations organized solidarity demonstrations and support actions for the residents of Hawara.Hawara continued to be in the headlines in all the months that followed: more pogroms by the settlers, attacks by Palestinians and a massive presence of the army in the town. It amounted to a de facto curfew of commerce and life in the center of the city. On October 5, 2023, MK Zvi established a Sukkah in the center of Hawara and hundreds of settlers backed the army blocked the main road and held prayers in the heart of the town all night and the next day. On Saturday, October 7, 23 The "Swords of Iron" war began with an attack by Hamas on settlements surrounding Gaza in the face of a poor presence of the IDF. Much criticism has been made of the withdrawal of military forces from the area surrounding Gaza and their placement in the West Bank, and in the Hawara and Samaria region in particular, as a shield for the settlers who were taking over and rioting.
On November 12, 2023, the first section of the Hawara bypass road intended for Israeli traffic only was opened. In this way, the settlers can bypass the road that goes through the center of Hawara, which is the main artery for traffic from the Nablus area to Ramallah and the south of the West Bank. For the construction of the road, the Civil Administration expropriated 406 dunams of private land belonging to Palestinians from the nearby villages. The settlers are not satisfied with this at the moment, and demand to also travel through Hawara itself in order to demonstrate presence and control.(updated November 2023)
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Ronit Dahan-RamatiAug-24-2026Huwara: The school on the outskirts of town and an outpost hidden among the trees
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