Huwwara, Beit Furiq 12 July 2007 Watchers: Dalia V. and Nurit V-L. (reporting)Translation: Suzanne O.Summary: the separation is in full force, ‘stand in threes’ in Za’atra (Tapuach), ‘stand there’ (in the sun) in Huwwara, a meaningful conversation in Beit Furiq.Za’atra/Tapuach7:10 a.m.The separation is in full force – those aged between 16 – 35 are not permitted to cross.Crowding from the west: twenty-two vehicles in the queue. Amazingly there is no hold up from the north. An officer outranking the roadblock commander comes over to us at his own initiative and asks what our impressions are… we point at the queue from the west, and he explains the need for a thorough inspection but he is on his way there after he had helped to ‘whip up’ the queue from the north during the morning rush hour and indeed, after a few minutes, the queue from the west is reduced too.A bus, on its way to Ramallah from Nablus, is forced to park in the car park. Its passengers are taken off, including the elderly and babies. According to the driver they have already been on their way for an hour, they were held up at Huwwara and then at Yitzhar. A young man of a particular age is immediately sent back. Another, limping badly holding medical documents and a permit to cross, is taken to the checkpoint for telephone clarification. Strange – how did they cross the previous roadblocks?A soldier approaches the bus passengers and orders them to stand in threes (some kind of parade) including the elderly and the babies to wait for their documents to be returned. They obey. When we recover from our amazement we signal the roadblock commander in an unmistakable manner. When he comes over we protest strongly. The commander’s body language confirms the discomfort he feels. It is fairly obvious – this is the private initiative of the soldier. (The continuing years of occupation and roadblocks have contributed to so many twisted ‘individual initiatives’ which have contributed to our good name in the world!!!) After a few minutes the documents are returned quickly in no particular order, the young man with the hospital appointment is also permitted to join and the bus leaves on its way (if he had been in an ambulance his hold up would have been avoided, but it so expensive for them). 20 minutes. Regarding our aforementioned question the commander replies that the separation is not in force at every roadblock for all areas. (But they could have been informed at Huwwara that from Tapuach Junction those subject to separation/refusal are not permitted to cross couldn’t they?)Borin/Yitzhar JunctionThere is a roadblock on the Nablus Huwwara road. There are eight cars in the queue. A quick glance shows that there is no particular hold up.Huwwara roadblock7:50 a.m.The car park is full. Near the roadblock there is a small impromptu market of bagels, sweets and drinks (since the beginning of time wherever there is a combination of people queuing and transport – the dynamics bring food and drink and small commerce, in spite of bans. Check history books on the development of town centres).And what is missing here? Toilets, water and some shade for those queuing – things that were promised by those who laid the roads and built the car park more than a month ago at the opening of the area. Plus – there are not two openings in the concrete blocks so that the people crossing with luggage can get to the x-ray machine with their luggage. They are still forced to drag their bags all the way around and then to return to collect their documents, apart from the young (men) who are able to jump over the concrete blocks. A young man carrying a child in his arms endangers both of them, in our opinion, in this hurdling exercise because he does not want to go all the way around. (By the way, in case of emergency the soldiers crowded by the checkpoint will also have to demonstrate hurdling skills in order to get to the pedestrian crossing.)A DCO officer who arrives later tells us that all the above details, which are humanitarian issues, have been discussed already at the DCO. And the execution? According to the laws of nature – after the winter and the spring the summer will also pass.On our arrival the roadblock is quite empty. Two checkpoints are functioning on both sides of the roadblock. The elderly, women and children cross via the ‘humanitarian’ lane. The number of vehicles on both sides of the roadblock is also low. There are no detainees and everything runs quietly.Separation – those between the ages of 16 – 35 are not permitted to cross, apart from those from the neighbouring villages.The roadblock commander is gentle and polite, and this is also how he runs the arena, he really listens to us and answers our question why people are permitted to get to Tapuach and when they get there they are not permitted to cross. His answer: the separation order was received at Huwwara roadblock just half an hour ago.Beit Furiq roadblock9:00 a.m.There are five vehicles waiting in the car park. To our surprise the driver completing his inspection signals with his hand to the waiting vehicle to come to be inspected. There are no hold ups. According to the roadblock commander the roadblock opened at 5:00 a.m., this morning.On our arrival the crossing for pedestrians was empty. We are asked really politely not to cross the turnstile line, and we stand quietly in our place.A supply jeep arrives and parks right in the vehicle inspection lane. It could have parked in the second lane. In the ensuing conversation we comment on this.To our surprise, within a few minutes a soldier or two come over to us to discuss the work of our organisation. We give a broad explanation of the task of the civilian eye, accompanied by examples of continuing harm to the Palestinians’ human rights at this and other roadblocks, without denying the comprehensive stand against the occupation and the roadblocks. One of them even asserted that he had changed his opinion a few months ago about our work, but in general the soldiers are frustrated and offended by the attitude of some of the women towards them. Among other things they commented on inaccuracies in reports, someone said that he had wanted to write to us about it and again raised the use of the label ‘Nazis’.We clarified the unequivocal stand of the organisation. This is an opening for a meaningful discussion. I left my telephone number. Before we left, some of them expressed satisfaction at the conversation with us.Back at 9:50 a.m.The numbers of those crossing has grown since the early morning, also the numbers of vehicles, but there is no out of the ordinary hold up. The eastern checkpoint does not function some of the time.Women wait for their husbands. A few hold babies in their arms. At first they stand in the shadow at the southern side of the roadblock. In the empty detainees’ hut there are no benches. In conversation with the roadblock commander it turns out that, according to orders, they are forbidden to stand there nor are they allowed near the hut. We are clear that they cannot leave on their own and that it is impossible to allow women with babies, or anyone for that matter, to stand out in the heat of the sun and that they must also find solutions for the unsuitable conditions in the new area (toilets, water, shade). He agrees, but has difficulty in giving sweeping permission. At our request, the elderly and women with children can stay (but what will happen when we leave?). He himself calls the DCO officer, who is around, to us. We ask him to take care of the women. According to him, as already noted, the issue is under discussion at the DCO.Attempts to contact the Centre about the above issues are of no avail. The line is engaged. We give up. We contact Naomi and ask her to make a speedy appeal to the DCO commander as well as the members of the Knesset lobby.10:40 a.m.We have difficulty in leaving the area. The crowding and the commotion are great. Perhaps Palestinian stewards should be appointed?Borin/Yitzhar Junction – There are about fifteen cars in the queue. There is no reinforcement for those checking.Za’atra/Tapuach Junction – there are twelve cars in the queue from the north and eight from the west.The end.