Tayasir and Bekaot, Saturday AM, 5.11.05 Observers and reporters: Yehudit H, Rahel H.07:30-10:30 (third day of Id el-Fiter) Westward of Mechola Junction, upward, rocks are strewn across the width of the road with a red-white tape on the other side. 07:15 – Tayasir Checkpoint No traffic.Three cows still grazing by the checkpoint. 07:45 – Bekaot Checkpoint Six soldiers at the checkpoint and two military vehicles by the side of the road. Alongside the road, under the observation position, on the railing above the water conduit, two warrant officers are sitting deep in a lively conversation with the soldiers. Five cars are waiting to pass westward. According to the drivers, they have already waited half an hour. Three cars have collected on the other side.There are four lanes, but only one is open – in other words, there is no possibility of checking two cars at a time.We draw the soldiers’ attention to the growing line of vehicles. M. Begins to pass them through – slowly. He has time to choose. His comrade is standing by the railing of the checkpoint, chewing sunflower seeds. Two others cross to the other side and begin to check.Most of the cars are taxis. People dressed for the Islamic festival Ed el Fiter come out of the vehicle being checked, and obediently stand in a straight line at the roadside. The driver hands M. A pile of open identity cards, shows him the interior of the car, the baggage compartment, the glove compartment, turns the radio on and off, opens all the bags… gets back the Ids. The passengers hasten to re-board and they drive off. While they wait, they show interest in our badges, then nod their heads in understanding. There’s a time out between checking each vehicle. While the cars wait, six soldiers stand with their backs to the line idling away their time, comparing notes about the yeshiva where they studied, pulling out a cake from home (offering some to us), drinking something milky (dropping the lid on the road ), and trying from time to time to draw us into a debate on why we stand facing them.A small bus drives us and is waved forward. The driver descends and proffers identity cards for examination. The soldier, spitting out the sunflower pods, calls to the passengers: “Yalla, yalla, in a line…”.The check is complete. The bus drives on.A soldier comes out of the hut. Another comes from the military vehicles: from the way he picks up the litter from the road by the bunker, he appears to be a medical corpsman or sanitary worker.08:40 – the army vehicles leave, and four soldiers remain (perhaps with one more inside the hut).The routine of examination continues. Here and there the soldiers address comments and epithets at the drivers, derogatory remarks about the cars, criticism of the age of the taxi drivers. A few of the drivers are well known at the checkpoint – others not.Close to 10:00 the checkpoint is empty, and we are invited to Shabbat kiddush.Meanwhile, cars arrive and wait…Kiddush is over. As we get ready to leave, we see that the soldiers are departing from the checkpoint positions. Why?“We also have human rights. After kiddush – a meal.” The meal lasts 10 long minutes, the checkpoint is unmanned… the cars don’t move.A family arrives. According to the ID of one of the women, she lives in Nablus so she cannot pass. A phone call to the DCO, and we get permission for them to cross, but not to return. The family thanks emotionally, and decides to go on nevertheless.