Tulkarm Checkpoints, Wednesday afternoon, 14.3.2007Observers; Tammie C. Raya Y. (reporting)Natanya translating. 14.15 Jubara. The gate is closed and the commander comes to open for us. He says he tries to solve problems. Tammie asks him if he is aware of the problem of the workers returning on Friday and he says that he is and that he tries to solve the problem.  When we ask why there is a gate at the entrance which was always open and is now locked he says “The Palestinians from the area of Jerusalem and Ramallah tried to enter through it. 14.35 The children’s gate. We are detained and Tammie checks this out. One of the soldiers knows who we are, the other does not. At the gate humps have been added. 14.45 A-Ras. Little movement. Anabta 16.45 A line of cars without end which we tried to count but gave up in despair. We are not sure that we have ever seen such a long line.  People are getting out of the cars which are  not moving.  As we try to go forward Tammie phones the brigade commander and he answers that there had been an alert which is no longer relevant.  And wonder of wonders the line begins to move and in a few minutes there is no sign of it.  We stay so as to see what is happening and after a few minutes there is no checking whatsoever of cars.  And so we have to ask the eternal question….are we there to open up the traffic jams because there is no communication between the brigade and the checkpoint? 17.10 We leave.