Irtach, Jubara, Ar-Ras. Anabta, Sunday AM, 28 May 2006 Watchers: Orna Pundak, Naomi Kolitz, Sarah Breitberg-Semel (reporting) Summary: A slight easing of restrictions, little movement at most of the checkpoints, the area of Nablus is most limited. Day laborers with temporary work permits only speak of a grave shortage since the olive harvest.7.00, The crossing at Irtah The closure has been removed and the passage is open. No movement to the west and none waiting. Workers who passed get on to the jeeps waiting to take them to work and explain that the paucity of people is due to the limited work permits, they did not say how many. They say that there is talk that soon 3000 such permits will be issued.7.15, Checkpoints at JubaraClosed in all directions. The soldiers say that this is because work is being done at the checkpoints. This should be carefully checked. Ar-Ras [that started as a roadblock but is now a full-fledged permanent checkpoint] replaces Jubara. We pass through the village to Gate 753.7.20 There is no one waiting at this gate and up to now there has been little traffic at the checkpoints. The orders are : passage only to those who have agricultural permits to Jubara and to the envelope line. No passage for day laborers. This time too, as in previous trips a man from Paron with a permit to pass to Gate 708. The permit is valid until September 2007, this we saw, but the gate is closed. He is trying to get to his lands in Jubara but he cannot pass 753. It is clear from the previous time that 708 is only temporary and has been closed since the olive harvest. People cannot get to their lands. The reason given is that “There is nothing for them to do there.”07.30 Ar-Ras Checkpoint On the way from Gate 753 there is a barbed wire fence, new on both sides of the road. Here also no one is waiting which is not usual here. The orders are that the passage is open also to [males] 16-30 years of age, traveling from north to south. About every 5th car is checked.07.50 Anabta checkpointA line of pedestrians and cars waiting, about 20 cars. The checking is moving smoothly. The orders are that there is no closure or segregation in effect and also [males] between 16-30 are allowed to pass, also blue [=Israeli] IDs, both cars and pedestrians.