Jubara, Ar-Ras, Anabta, Wednesday PM, 24 May 2006Watchers: Deborah L, Raya Y (reporting)Jubara:13:10 — Deserted. Reminiscent of accelerated building, with the words “here will be a large parking area,” in movement… Everything empty, deserted… dead.We are to accept a package from a Palestinian resident of Tulkarm, to be brought to [a company or organization; name suppressed] at their request. Deborah tries to talk to the soldiers and explain, but the answer is, “No one can pass here, the Palestinian [who has already been told at what hour to be at Jubara] must go to Anabta.” It seems predictable and almost unsolvable. Deborah doesn’t give up, goes to the Tulkarm Checkpoint, and comes back bearing the package.We enter Jubara. Gate 723 is open. The soldiers are mute and inscrutable towards us. A holder of a 24-hour permit tries to pass, and apparently succeeds.13:35 The Ar-Ras Gate is open 24 hours. A large team of soldiers is involved in placing coils of concertina barbed wire. Soldiers in the hut from both sides tell us “there is no restriction on crossing,” and we indeed see that there is no checking from Tulkarm to Qalqiliya.13:53 — We return to Jubara.. A soldier tells us, “The Gate is closed meanwhile until the improvement of the road is completed, and that will probably take a month and then the Gate will reopen.” Travelling to Anabta, we discern a security road (parallel to the one on which we are driving) in an advanced stage, located between Route 557 and Einav.Anabta14:09-14:30 — The soldiers are allowing passage without checking, but are telling the drivers that they will not be permitted to return. Exit only to Safarin, Beit Lid and Shufa. A taxi driver tells us that up to 30 there is no possibility of coming out of Jenin and Tulkarm. A soldier sends back an empty bus (Tulkarm to Nablus) with a permit to pass: “There are other routes to get to Nablus – not from here!!!” The driver is angry, but accepts the verdict. We try to intervene, but with no success. A truck arrives with cows, their udders full of milk, destined for the village of Kabaln, which is not on the list of permissible places. The CP commander refuses to let the truck through. The driver seems in despair and bereft of hope. We approach the commander and try to appeal to his better nature as this is a clear case of maltreatment of animals, especially since the cows can die in the chamsin [hot, dry weather condition] – it is over 30 degrees C. After thorough explanations, he gives way and lets the truck through. When we ask about certain orders and when they became effective, he says that they (the orders) change every eight hours.On our way to the car, we enquire from a taxi driver about the situation: “I heard yesterday on television that there are eased conditions, and everyone can come out of Tulkarm to Anabta, with packages and vehicle loads – but in reality, everything is closed.”14:30 — A blue [Israeli] police car arrives at the parking area in order to give “parking tickets.” This, it should be remembered, on one of the days that the media doesn’t stop talking about the police in relation to the Parinyan affair. Yet there is ample time to give parking fines to Palestinians…