Deir Sharaf, Thu 14.5.09, Afternoon

14:45: On our way on highway #55, we identified the course of the new fence beneath the settlement of Tzofim and saw that they are dismantling the old fence.  The land owners have not yet been permitted to return to their lands since the moving of the fence, on the side of Tzofim (something not clear here) and there was needed? a permit to enter them.  A telephone call to the head of the regional council, Nebi-Elias, to clarify information about the road by-passing Azzun.  He told us that indeed he had heard rumors, but had not yet received plans or any notice about confiscations.

15:20 - Deir Sharaf.

Free movement of vehicles to and from Nablus.  For the 20 minutes we were there, the soldiers delayed one bus for a short inspection.  Drivers in cars going by waved at us in greeting.  We met the construction engineer of the road being built from Shavey Shomron to highway #60, and were informed by him that the purpose of the new road was to correct a dangerous piece of the previous road (which had been paved about 2 years ago), and that there was no plan to lengthen it beyond what one can already see.  It starts at the first bend of the road ascending to Shavey Shomron, and ends next to the factory close to the crossroad.  Of course, the question is: does the amount of traffic on this road justify the confiscation of land and the investment of hundreds of millions of shekels of the tax payers' money? (the engineer claims that the army and the settlement of Shavey Shomron are paying for the road).