Irtah, Jubara, A-Ras, Anabta, Monday AM, 8 May 2006 Watchers: Ziona A, Roni S (reporting)IrtahThe installation appears abandoned, but there are three buses waiting to transport family members going to visit inmates in Israeli prisons (a regular, escorted transportation arrangement for them) waiting in the parking lot. At the entrance on the Palestinian side, a man is waiting: he has an appointment for Laniado Hospital in Netanya at 08:30. He asks us to check whether they are going to open the gate.By phone from the DCO [District Coordination Office of the IDF Civil Administration, that oversees passage permits] we’re told that the gate will open at 07:00 for the inmates’ families (who are beginning to arrive), and then he will be allowed to cross together with them. Later on we checked by phone to see if he had crossed – and he was already on the way to the hospital.07:15, JubaraOn the way through the village to the Schoolchildren’s Gate it becomes clear that their buses have already crossed. The long arm of the closure is total at the entrance to Israel. Many women workers are going to Jubara with permits to work there. Transit is fast. A woman has only a photocopy of her permit: the original was taken from her on the contention that it was a fake. Despite her claim that she always passes – she has to go to the DCO to get the original permit.07:35 The Schoolchildren’s Gate and the Agricultural Gate are closing, at the lower gate next to Abu Hatem’s entrance is only for family members.At the checkpoint to Tulkarm we are stopped by a Palestinian who has a permit valid for two years to work his lands at Faroun, but they won’t let him pass. We took the details and passed them on to Tami Cohen to deal with.08:10, A-RasThe road which was paved “for the benefit of the residents” is full of potholes and dangerous to travel on. Ten cars are in line in the direction of Qalqiliya. When we arrive the passage is fairly brisk. From Qalqiliya northwards the way is open. From Tulkarm, Jenin and Nablus, no transit between 16-30, including students.DCO representative R. stands on the side and does not intervene. He doesn’t attempt to clarify or assist. We phone the DCO to find out what the instructions are for female students, and we learn that they may pass. R. claims that the soldiers told him that it was forbidden. It is only when we pressure him to check for a certain 18 year old student woman that he calls to clarify.A mother and daughter from Tulkarm want to go to Qalqiliya. The mother may, the daughter may not. The reason, the daughter’s fiancé (in prison in Israel) is a resident of Qalqiliya. Therefore she must submit a request for family visit. But she can’t get to Qalqiliya because of her age. The mother cannot submit a request in her name. R. is not willing to help. After I threaten to phone his commander, Kamil – he bothers to make a phone call. We suggested to the two women to wait on the side. Regrettably, we did not take their phone numbers, so we couldn’t call back to see if they had crossed.09:05 As we leave we see that a line of 20 cars has materialised in the direction of Qalqiliya. Next to Enav a bulldozer is working on a new road – or in preparing the infrastructure for a new neighborhood…09:40, AnabtaThere is almost no line in either direction. From the north, in other words from Jenin District and Tulkarm in the direction of Nablus crossing is prohibited for [men] ages 16-30. Entry is permissible for everyone except Israelis, but the soldiers do allow Israeli Arabs to cross on foot, and to leave their cars outside the checkpoint. There are almost no checkings at the entrance to Anabta. The soldiers are courteous. The taxi drivers are waiting for customers and wanting to talk politics.We continue to Beit Iba [see separate report under Nablus].Observation of vandalism:Facing the entrance to Ramin we see fig trees cut down and slashed. We try to clarify what happened with the taxi drivers and their passengers. Their assumption is that settlers did it, but they have no proof. On the way back we found no one to ask.