Jubara & surroundings, Tuesday, 6.9.05, AMObservers: Ruti C, Shlomit S, Elinoar B (reporting)06:15-07:30Ephraim Gate (Irtah) is deserted. No soldiers or workers to be seen. In Jubara proper the atmosphere is unpleasant, and this is an understatement. In the village we hear from one of Abu Hatem’s regulars, Sammy, that lately the behavior of the soldiers has deteriorated – especially in the evening when the DCO leaves. The soldiers show contempt and masterliness of the familiar kind: “Stand over there, move back, why are you laughing?” Actually, we witness such behavior on part of the commander, staff sergeant R. He screams at people, yells at a soldier who tries to talk to us. When the school busses arrive, he doesn’t let them enter the village. He doesn’t know anything about them. We call I. at the DCO, and a few minutes later the busses are allowed to enter. The central checkpoint leading to Israel is manned by an MP (female) and an elderly [Russian] seam line volunteer. The man opens his mouth to scream at us, “Go away, don’t stand here!” etc. “Who are you?” I ask. “A soldier,” he says. Pathetic. A moderately long line of vehicles are waiting to exit Tulkarm. Apparently people going to Shufa and Beit Lid are allowed to cross here. From above we watch the traffic stuck in the underpass road – next week we may take the Azzun road (55) and go there. The MP leaves for a few moments and the commander yells: “The volunteer is by himself? Who is going to protect him?” Funny. To be fair, for some obscure reason, this very same commander became quite civil, even apologetic, when on our way back from Beit Iba (09:30) he asked us not to stop at a red-and-white marking. Wonders will never cease. No roadblocks en route, Anabta is deserted.