Huwwarra, Beit Furik, Za’atara and rolling CP, Thursday 9.3.2006PMObservers; Aliza M. Nava M. Michal S. Hagar L. (reporting)Natanya translating.Summary; A drive along the “Hotze Shomron” road reinforces the thought that the army is gradually encircling the Palestnians villages which are in the areas which Israel intends to annex to the framework of the “block of settlements in the occupied territories. Along the road we see many army vehicles even besides those of the rolling checkpoints . The encircling of the village of Marda is nearly complete and two iron gates in the fence are still open, threatening in their ability to ;cut off the village as also the exit from Gimain-Zeita. At Hawarra a boy has been detained as it is claimed he was carrying a knife. We arrived just as he had been arrested. The checkpoint was handled most efficiently, without shouting, without people being detained as punishment and short waiting periods …very different to what we had seen in the past. Very cold weather, strong winds and hail. And this made the efficient functioning of the checkpost even more important.The limitations of movement and passage. At the crossroads of Zatara the residents of the area of Jenin and Tulkarm are not allowed to pass southwards . At Hawarra we saw no one turned back. It is possible that the residents mentioned above are already stopped at El Bidan and therefore do not reach Hawarra. 13.30 Marda. At the western side of the fence which lies under Ariel is an iron gate which is open but an army jeep stands there. We did not see people leaving. At the main exit from the village an iron gate stands since about two weeks ago and it is open and with no army presence. The taxi drivers who used to be at the entrance of Gimain-Zeita we are told that that morning residents of Marda had been prevented from passing to Road 5 . There are still small openings along the fence.13.35. At the entrance to Gimain-Zeita from road 5 there are about 10 taxi drivers waiting. Here too there is an iron gate which is open with no army presence. The drivers tell us that it is open at night (in the meantime). They tell us that there is a rolling checkpoint on the road to Gimain-Einbus. We decide to check this out and to take the short way through Hawarra.13.45 Crossroads of Zatara. We go in the direction of Zalfit so as to check out whether the road to all the villages in the area has again been blocked, (area A.). We pass the entrance to the villages Tapuach and go on to the first village, Yasif it seems and are told by drivers that the road is open.14.00 At the crossroads of Zatara there is a limitation of passage. Residents of Tulkarm and Jenin are not allowed to pass in the direction of Ramallah, Hebron, etc. Rain and wind meet us. From the west are 12 cars and from the north 64. Two checking areas. It seems that the cars were moving but slowly and there were no detainees.14.15 The entrance to Beita from road 60. No checkpoint. 14.20 The road Einbus-Gimain at the entrance to the village of Hawarra. We drive along this area and find the road open.14.28 The crossroads of hawarra. A rolling checkpoint on road 60 at the crossroads in the direction of Dir Sharif. No cars. We wonder why the army has not arrived at this conclusion before harassing thousands of citizens who have just finished being checked at one area and then arrive at the next 100s of metres onward.14.30 Hawarra checkpoint. When we arrive we a detainee, handcuffed and blindfolded and the commander is holding a cell phone in his hand and the detainee is speaking to his family. The soldiers claim he was found with a knife and they are waiting for him to be taken away. He will wait in this manner until 16.30 and then two soldiers will take him on foot to the nearby army base. He does not understand Hebrew or English and we cannot get details from him. He is not taken to the toilet or given water.14.55 15 cars waiting to exit Nablus and none waiting to enter. The checkpoint is functioning in an efficient manner which we have not seen in a long tiem. 3 checking area, one humanitarian and two for pedestrians. These functioned the entire time we were present and the checking though thorough was quick and there were no long lines. When we arrived there were about 80 people and they passed within 15 minutes. Then from 17.21-17.34 (13 minutes). R. the commander had his hand on the pulse the entire time and he himself helped to ease areas where there was pressure. A. (Or) the military policeman seems to work as if he were three or four men and carries out his inspection so quickly and efficiently that the line of those waiting to have their ids check lengthens. Then after a few minutes he goes over to this line and immediately there is an easing of pressure. And then he goes back to the physical checking area and so he goes, backwards and forward and so there are no lines even though there is a steady stream of people arriving from Nablus. This is especially important on such a miserable day.15.45 A short visit to the back on back checkpoint at Awarta. D. tells us that the checkpoint open on time now at 6am and closes at 17.00.16.05 We go back to Hawarra and see that now there is another detainee whose id is being checked. He is freezing and we try to help but he is only freed by the efforts of the commander at 17.45 and we leave.At the crossroads there is still a rolling checkpoint but no cares and also none at the entrance to Beita.15.00 Checkpoint at Beit Furik. We divided into two and two of us went to Beit Furik where we find that the pressure on the checkpoint at least on a Thursday is at an earlier hour. When we arrive cars are not being allowed through and there is a line of 20 cars waiting to leave Nablus and 5 wishing to enter. Pedestrians pass.15.35 The soldiers begin allowing cars to pass and within 10 minutes there is no more line and little traffic of any kind so we decide to go back and see from Hawarra that also there is little traffic going up to Ein Bidan.18.12Checkpoint of Zatara. 11 cars from thenorth and 16 from the west.18.20 entrance to Marda 2 hammers cause a blockage but no cars are waiting.