SARRA, BEIT IBA , Monday 14 March 2005 AMObservers: Rachel A., Herzliya A., Ronny S., Naomi L., Edna M. (reporting) colour=red>Sarra08:30 – We came here to see this specific checkpoint for ourselves in light of reports we’d read recently. It was manned by three reservists and they were the only people there. In front of the checkpoint was a sign forbidding Israelis from crossing as this was Palestinian Authority territory. The houses of Sarra, and the outskirts of Nablus were all clearly visible.The soldiers told us that a small number of permit holders had gone through to work at 06:30 and another small number had left for Nablus through Beit Iba. They said that vehicles with permits could go through in both directions (according to the type of permit). At 18:00, they said, the checkpoint was closed and passage was forbidden to everyone in both directions. During our brief stay a Palestinian arrived from Jit junction. The soldier said he knew everyone who went through and talked to the man. After a quiet conversation, he told us that the man had been called home by his wife because their daughter was ill.Beit Iba09:05 – The checkpoint was busy, and there were more vehicles than usual. There were crowds of pedestrians and many vehicles so that it was hard to move or to park. People were going to and from Nablus through all three checking points, and vehicles were travelling towards Nablus, Sarra and Qusin. Traffic was kept moving well.There was no representative of the District Coordinating Office (DCO) [the army section that handles civilian matters; it generally has representatives at the checkpoints ostensibly to alleviate the lot of the Palestinians] in evidence, but neither were there any problems which required his presence. The soldiers had lists of “wanted” people and checked certain age-groups more strictly. Nobody under 25 was allowed to go through. We’d thought that young people were being allowed into Nablus. What happens to them when they try to leave?We saw a man detained because, according to the soldiers, his name was on the “wanted” list. Rachel tried to talk to him but could not understand why he had been detained. At 09:35 we left.