Beit Furik, Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), Wed 16.9.09, Morning
Southern zone
Translation: Suzanne O.
Huwwara roadblock
9:10 a.m.
On arrival the soldiers would not allow us to park in the deserted car park, but after a few words they agreed and later on even wanted to know more about the activities of MachsomWatch.
The traffic flowed fairly well, there are between 5 - 10 cars on average at the roadblock, we counted about 5 minutes wait per car, more or less. At times 15 cars were in the queue.
The soldiers stopped a bus. The passengers were taken off. They were stood in 3 rows - facing the sun. Their documents were inspected. The bus was inspected; it was searched by dogs who also checked the baggage area twice. (According to Micky they use these opportunities to train the dogs). It took 17 minutes until the passengers were ordered back onto the bus.
Beit Furiq roadblock
10:00 a.m.
Traffic crosses freely.
10:15 a.m.
We went into the village. We went up to the town hall (local council?). Micky had a friendly conversation with the village mayor - complaints were raised about the road leading south, west, which they are not permitted to drive on. And also in this respect the fact that the army does not permit them access to their olive groves a few metres away on the top of the hill in full view of the town hall window, because of its proximity to the settlement of Itamar. They are forced to dry out the trees out of fear of the settlers and the army.
We saw a large billboard there (Micky took a photo) advertising the development plan for the village. Funds are raised abroad for the project.
Tapuach Junction (Za'atra)
11:10 a.m.
On the whole the traffic flows. Suspect vehicles are directed to park at the side.
We stayed about a quarter of an hour. A car was parked at the side, all the doors open. It was being searched by dogs.
The soldiers were not prepared to tell us what the problem was. They also did not permit us to speak to the driver - who was standing in the sun a few metres from the vehicle. They claimed it was dangerous. We feared that they would take it out on him if we tried to communicate with him.