Jalama, Checkpoint 250 Tuesday morning, 6 July 2004 Watchers: Chedva H., Yocheved G. (reporting) Jalama, 9:00 AM. Only a few Palestinians were waiting. The passage of pedestrians was very slow. It was very hot, and as usual, they didn’t stand in the covered area, but on the road, in the sun, expecting the solider to signal for them to approach. At 9:30 AM, an officer, Lieut. R., arrived. He stopped all passage because of some military maneuvers. The waiting Palestinians were angry, and they told us it occurred from time to time. After half an hour, the slow passage was renewed. We spoke with the commander, suggesting that whenever they stop the passage, they should tell the Palestinians to wait in the shade.When we arrived at 10:00 AM to CP 250, it was closed. Cars were waiting on both sides of the CP, and no soldiers in sight. The Palestinians told us they were waiting for half an hour, not daring to advance. We telephoned the battalion commander, brigadier general Dotan, and left him a message as to what there were 25 cars waiting at the exit of Jenin and 10 more at the entrance to the town, and that there were small children inside the cars and the heat was unbearable. A few minutes later, some soldiers arrived. They explained that the orders are that there should be a certain number of soldiers at any given moment at the CP, and that if a soldier has to go to the toilets, for example, they all go with him, and the CP is closed. This occurs several times a day. Also, the CP is closed when they’re having their meals. They added that staffing 2 more soldiers on each shift would solve the problem.We suggest that until there is a water faucet at CP 250, MWatch women bring bottles of cold water for the Palestinians.