Tulkarm checkpoints, Wednesday 2.5.07 a.m.Observers: Marcela K., Rina Ts. (reporting)Translation: Galia S.Overall:Anabta checkpoint is closed due to constructions and drivers have to take a long detour through Beit Lid. This causes congestion at Ar-Ras checkpoint.Beit Lid junction on road 55710:00 – Two reservists direct the traffic. Palestinian cars are told to take the road to Beit Lid and Israeli vehicles have to go toward Jubara. We are told that residents of Ramin and Shufa are allowed to travel, only by taxi, toward Anabta. This is their last day on reserve service. One of the soldiers says that, as a soldier, the contact with the Palestinians is not easy for him.Ar-Ras checkpoint (Farm 8)10:25 – there are relatively many cars compared to regular days at the checkpoint. Over fifteen cars from the direction of Tulkarm are in line. A commander in a military vehicle is here (reserve commanders don’t wear their rank) and he instructs the soldiers to speed up the inspection. Waiting time is about 15 minutes (we time this).Here, too, one of the soldiers complained he doesn’t understand what he is doing here and what the checkpoints are for. Checkpoints, according to him, should be only between the two states and that’s it.A dog trainer with a dog is sitting near by. She hasn’t checked anyone during our entire stay at the checkpoint. Is it due to the fact that the soldiers here are reservists who don’t particularly like the whole idea? And why, for that matter, must there be a dog at Ar-Ras checkpoint almost on a regular basis?An old man arrives. He wishes to go into Jubara although he doesn’t have the right permit. It turns out that he often comes here with the same wish. It’s quite obvious that he wants to get to Taiybe to collect alms, which is presumably how he makes his living. The checkpoint commander refuses. In our talk with him, he puts forward all kinds of formalistic arguments, but he eventually relents. This is another example that shows how the soldiers at the checkpoint determines people’s fate – who will make a living and who won’t.10:55 – Eight cars come from the direction of Tulkarm.We leave.