Irtah, Jubara, Anabta, Tuesday AM, 21 March 2006, 06:10-08:30Watchers: Ruti C., Shlomit S., Maya M., Elinoar B. (repoting)Guest: Masha (Maya’s mother)IrtahClosure in effect [i.e. blanket restriction on passage]; the facility is deserted. Jubara Just a few people with blue [Israeli] IDs waiting on the southern end to get out to Israel. On the Tulkarm (northern) side very few car are queuing up. There are quite a few soldiers, though. This seems unreasonable in light of the fact that in Anabta (which belongs to the same brigade), there are very few soldiers and the result is excruciating slowness (see below).Gate 753 (22)As usual when there’s a changing of units – a mess. At seven arrive the school buses having passed safely the village gate. Why through this particular gate, the sergeant wants to know. We assure him this has been the usual gate for years now. The high school boys are told to get out, and eventually things are sorted out. Many day laborers are waiting to enter the village. All have agricultural permits, though most of them are for other gates. But they work here, they say. They try to convince the sergeant, begging politely in the familiar heartbreaking way. He relents twice, then says “enough”. The boy scout did his good deed of the day.Before we have a chance to call the DCO [District Coordination Office of the IDF Civil Administration, in charge of passage permits] the gate is closed, the laborers disperse and the soldiers drive away.AnabtaScores of vehicles and pedestrians on both sides. The traffic northwards is detained due to the narrowness of the road. Going south, the checking is thorough and very slow. We call the brigade, report what’s going on, and the soldier there promises to pass it further on. Nothing happens before we leave for Beit Iba, but this is nothing new. [See under “Nablus” for the report on Beit Iba]