0645: Schoolchildren were
dropped off by car at Jubara side of the checkpoint, walking after
being checked (by polite mature reservists) toward Tulkarm. Female
students were also walking in the same direction (there seems to be
in an open university at Tulkarm). Teachers from Tulkarm wanting to
cross toward Ar Ras (where there is a rural school) were let
through easily. Passage was smooth in all directions except to
Jubara. Our major occupation concerned the horse cart farmers.
Unfortunately, nothing was done by the civil administration to
which we gave the names and IDs last week. We had to start all over
again, adding a few more names. We now have a list of 12 people who
claim that they are from Far’un or Shufa (on the Tulkarm side) and
their land is around Jubara. They have cultivated land and olive
groves. The olive harvest should start at the beginning of next
month. They are not on the checkpoint list. One farmer had been on
the list, but his pass expired and he has reapplied. It takes two
weeks to get the new pass, and meanwhile he was not let through. We
spoke to the DCO, and were told that “there may be security
reasons for them not getting the permit”. We tried to convince
him to come to the checkpoint and witness this impossible scene of
10 horsecart farmers who are obviously family providers. He said he
couldn’t leave while 200 people(!) were waiting at the window to
get permits. While we made further attempts, a farmer from Jubara
told us that produce must be thrown because it cannot reach markets
on the other side. For unknown reasons, these farmers were let
through yesterday at 6pm (an hour before darkness) and on other
days, after waiting long enough in the sun.