Za’atra Roadblock, Huwwara Roadblock and Beit Furiq Roadblock. 1 October 2005 Watchers: Michal Z., Chava H., Rama Y, Vivi T. (reporting)From Jerusalem to Tapuach-Za’atra Roadblock there is just one roadblock at the turning to Silwad. There are ten cars in the queue and the check consists of a glance at the cars.Za’atra Roadblock8:00 a.m.There are many cars in two lanes, one of them the ‘humanitarian’ and the other for those with addresses south of the roadblock. The humanitarian queue includes doctors and teachers, the other one is for all those with an address south of the roadblock, therefore, the separation is in full force and there is no way through for residents of the Nablus district in the direction of the Ramallah district.From the western side, from the direction of the Tulkarm area, there is also no way through to the Nablus area. In discussion with the commander, he tried to outline his perception of the logic of the roadblock, which in his opinion only makes difficulties for the population and the Palestinians should at least be informed before they arrive there, and have to go back again.Today everyone crosses; it appears that ‘they know’. There are other ways, which cost a lot of money to take, to bypass the roadblock: longer ways, with bad roads, snap roadblocks and army patrols. The army logic is to catch wanted people while they are unprepared.Soldiers, lounging and joking, are parked beside the roadblock with two Fatach flags on the roof of their vehicle – these have been confiscated from villages and are on show as scalps from bygone days. The commander climbs up on the roof of the vehicle and takes the flags down himself.Huwwara Roadblock8:30 a.m.Over 100 men are on the north side, outside the roadblock, and soldiers direct them to queues before getting to the turnstiles. According to the commander: “So that they don’t get squashed in the turnstiles.” Male residents of Beit Furiq between the ages of 16 – 30 entering Nablus are not allowed to cross in the direction of Highway 60 via the Huwwara roadblock. Relatively the crossing is quick: while we were observing between 5 – 10 cars queuing. There is very heavy traffic of pedestrians going to Nablus, very few cars go in, just those with lots of permits and documents. The stallholders in the market tell us of abuse by settlers from Yitzhar. They come at night and smash the windows of taxis parked by houses in the village. The army stands by and does not lift a finger. According to the man who spoke to us, the settlers are armed and the Palestinians are afraid to confront them and don’t even dare to take photographs. They are expecting difficulties in the area at the olive harvest time.Beit Furiq RoadblockThe restriction of 16 – 30 year-olds to cross has been lifted today. The restriction, as noted, applies to Beit Furiq residents at Huwwara roadblock. It is not hard to imagine the prison in which they live in the village. On the one hand army areas block their way towards the Bik’a and their only way out into the world is via the roadblock where, in the last week, life has been closed down and there is an age restriction. An extremely angry woman says that we are buried (midfugin in Arabic). Taxis are allowed into Nablus without passengers for repairs or to be tested, and very few private cars can go in and out and then only when they are completely eligible in accordance with traffic laws. Thus, in the taxi car park, old cars are parked which are supposed to be grounded because they don’t comply with the standards of the developed world that don’t exist among the residents of the area who are as poor as church mice.11:00 a.m.On the way back to Jerusalem there are roadblocks at Yitzhar Junction, Tapuach Junction and at the turning to Silwad with a small number of cars at each one.