Irtah, Jubara, Anabta, Monday, 5.12.05, AMObservers: Naomi L, Roni S (reporting)06:40 IrtahThe drivers waiting outside are complaining that, the checkpoint did open at 05:30 but the process is very slow, and takes at least an hour. Going in we discovered the reason: there are 15 checking stations equipped with everything necessary, but only one is manned!!! A phone call to Oren, the military policeman responsible for the checkpoint unit, was answered by a secretary who said that they would get back to us… 07:05 – O, the efficient DCO, arrives and announces that busses with the families of prisoners have arrived. He settles down in an additional position and proceeds to eliminate the waiting line. 07:15 – we travel to the entrance on the other side, from which the Palestinians come in, and see that there are no more workers – only the families of prisoners, waiting in line.07:30 – JubaraThe moment we arrive we are informed that there is a long line and problems outbound from Tulkarm. The military policewoman relates that there was a problem with a car, but it’s okay now… The soldiers are very aggressive, and sergeant A is very rigid. There is a lot of confusion about the numbers of the different checkpoints, and the soldiers have no idea where the gates are, and are incapable of explaining to the Palestinians where they must go. A young man and woman who live in Jayyus arrive, wanting to visit family in Jubara. Their permit reads Gate 943, and they say they have always crossed here. They show an expired permit for Gate 22 which they have replaced at the DCO Office. Neither they nor we can understand why the gate was changed. We try to help but, because of communication problems, are not successful. The soldiers are checking every vehicle meticulously, including doctors and UN.At the gate leading to Jubara, the soldiers are polite and pleasant (as far as possible) and, despite the tough commander, they add an atmosphere of greater tranquillity. We leave Jubara at 09:10, even though there still are lines and pressure. There is no doubt that a DCO officer is needed there every morning to resolve problems and supply understanding of the area.09:15 AnabtaA line of vehicles so long that we can’t see the end, stretching from Anabta to the pillbox which is now placed roughly facing the leather processing plant. They may have removed the yellow boom, but they have erected a new checkpoint. We left for Beit Iba.10:15 – on the way back from Beit Iba we again entered the checkpoint. A bus driver who we passed on the road said that he was delayed by the blue Police and fined 200 shekels for driving too close to the white line. He suggested using a bulldozer, like the one we saw erecting earthworks along the road, to widen the access road to the checkpoint. He also said that he left Jenin at 05:30 on the way to Tulkarm (already five hours en route), but he still remained optimistic… hoping that the good people on both sides will overcome, inshallah…When we got home, we heard about the Netanya strike.