Shavei Shomron, Beit Iba: Sunday, 14.08.05, PMObservers: Lee D., Karin L., Susan L. (reporting)Guest: Joanne J. “Summertime, an’ the livin’ ain’t easy” (with apologies to George Gershwin for the misquote). 14:20 Sarra-Jit JunctionNo rolling checkpoint at the usual junction, but just beyond, at the cutoff on the dirt road to Sarra, and the bend to Huwwara, there’s a commotion. Two fire trucks, police, plus the army and a huge burned out truck. A non-uniformed man beckons to us to advance, and as we’re ready to park by the Sarra dirt path, a soldier runs up to the car, hits it, tells us to leave. 14:35 Shavei ShomronWe chance on the opportunity to find out more from the well mannered captain we met last week here, and are told there had been an accident around noon time, the driver had been caught in the truck and it was very difficult to get him out, but he didn’t know any more details.At this checkpoint, there’s plenty of action. A safari truck arrives soon after we do, laden with soldiers who enter the base at the settlement, “because of the disengagement,” we’re told. 14:50 There are only about six cars at this point, lining up to be checked, coming from the Jenin direction. A Palestinian truck, bearing empty black water containers (the kind seen in Palestinian villages, as well as in East Jerusalem) is stopped, in the “parking lot” opposite the settlement. The driver is on his way from Jenin to Ramallah. He and his passenger are told to lock up the truck and wait near the checkpoint where three taxis are filled with young men – all of them detained, all of them trying to escape the oppressive heat in the shade of non-air conditioned taxis. The three soldiers manning the checkpoint have their hands full. They are supposed to deal with the traffic as well as with checking IDs and, obviously, cannot do both jobs at once! One by one, the taxis and their passengers are let go, the vehicle line grows apace.An unusual sight: many settler cars going into the settlement and others driving past the checkpoint, weaving in and out of the waiting Palestinian vehicles, diving northwards (to the about-to-be disengaged settlements there)? They have time to stare at us, and one returning Shavei Shomron driver has time to call out to us one of the more usual settler “greetings:” “So, you’re just sluts, or you also take money.”But as is usual, the Palestinians are really hassled. The bulky or long Israeli trucks also try to zigzag their way around the locals’ cars, and, naturally, create a log jam. But since a scapegoat needs to be found, it’s the Palestinians truck drivers, waiting to be checked, who are blamed. The soldiers take little notice of the settlers, have their hands full in trying to untangle the traffic mess. The line of cars grows and grows. Because the way to Jenin is blocked, there’s now a long line of vehicles at the other, southern side of the checkpoint too. We ask the captain, still enmeshed in discussions with the newly arrived safari soldiers, about the detained water container drivers whose permit had run out the evening before. We’re told that until they know that it’s ok, they can’t be released, and why didn’t he bother to renew the permit last week!15:10 No detainees, the water container carriers leave, just a huge line of vehicles in both directions. 15:20 Beit IbaThe carpenters at Hawash tell of a rumor about complete closure of Nablus over the next few days. Little activity around the taxi drivers, few vehicles in line, no stalls at all on one side of the road. The “barrow boys,” the men who transport good across the checkpoint, tell us they’re forbidden, as of today, to do so. On questioning, the soldiers confirm, but we’re told that donkey carts are allowed! Another probably made-up-on the spot “rule”, which, we’re told, comes from “on high.” No detainees, few people coming from Nablus. As last week, we’re told that there’s no DCO on duty. As last week, this is not true: he’s just not visible most of the time, as he’s in the cool of his jeep on the far side of the checkpoint! Whereas, at first, the soldiers ask if we have questions, a hush-hush powwow between Y., in charge, and another, (overheard through lip reading) results in the soldiers no longer talking to us and refusing to answer questions! Checking is thorough, each plastic bag carefully fondled or searched, the Palestinians bearing this with good grace, except for one young mother with small children, whose “attitude” (obvious seething anger at the whole ugly state of affairs) resulted in reinforced ugly, non verbal behavior by the soldier. The Israeli flag, which has flapped in people’s faces for months as their IDs or possessions were checked, has, finally been hooked on to a bolt in the iron door of the checkpost.16:10 The line of vehicles gradually increases although there are five soldiers at the Qusin junction.