We equipped ourselves with maps of Amud Anan (Cloud Pillar) and arrived at the CP between Azun Atma and Beit Amin, but found it closed.

Before The Eliyahu CP, to our right, there were police cars and a big power shovel moving enormous stones. We stopped. When we asked what was happened, the policeman only reminded us that stopping at this point was forbidden. Are they paving a new road? Widening it?

At Izbat Tabib we bought olive oil and at Azun we visited the shop of our friend Z.

We then drove southward, by way of Kafr Th’ulat and Hirbat el Ashkar, to reach the Beit Amin checkpoint. According to the last list we received from the DCO in August of this year, the gate was supposed to be opened at 12:45. We receive no up-to-date schedules despite innumerable requests.

There was no number on the gate, and no opening hours’ posting. We waited.

Along the wall, to the right of the CP, women on their way from Azun Atma to Beit Amin

And to the left of the CP, schoolchildren return from Azun Atma to Beit Amin, in an exhausting march.

We continued to wait for the opening of the CP. A young Palestinian, who volunteered to help us, told us that the CP was supposed to be opened at 13:00 and not at 12:45. In the meantime groups of  schoolboys and schoolgirls walk around and around after their school day, because there’s a and barbed-wire, and an impressive security road.

At a certain point, we give up and continue to Habla.

On the way we were surprised to see a ZAKA (An organization of volunteers who identify disaster victims) car parked near the grocery. The driver lives at Jaljuliya and has come to visit friends at Habla. He is not on duty.

At Habla, it is somewhat strange to see the CP from the town side. The Palestinians pass through a small gate, near the barbed wire rolls, on their way to the checking post.

We ask the military police for permission to pass by the gate to the Seam Zone in order to shorten the way back to Tel Aviv. They decline politely.

In the meantime, our friend A. arrived from the plant nursery and he too entered the checking post, as he had or many long years, twice or four time a day. Can one get used to this? Is it really necessary for Israel’s security?

We returned to road No. 5 and back to Tel Aviv.