'Azzun 'Atma, Kufr alDik, Za'tara (Tapuah), Zeta, Mon 27.5.13, Morning

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Observers: 
Shoshana Z., Nina S. (reporting) trans. Judith Green
May-27-2013
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Morning

 

 At Azun Atme there was a new unit which was not succeeding in organizing the checkpoint;  pushing and crowding, because the turnstile was not operating (for a change!). 

 

 

06:15 Azun Atme

The line didn't look long, until we understood the reason - there was a circular, rather than a linear line.

תור מעגלי במחסום The reason for this was that the turnstile was not operating and people were pushed up to the gate.  The passage was not efficient:  each time just one person, and then a halt.  So, little by little, the line was shoving and pushing and the women were pushed into the gate and then - there was no further passage through, until they all moved backward there would be no more progress.  And they didn't move, only shoved more, and the tension was growing.  A phone call to the DCO;  a car arrived with more soldiers, but they didn't interfere with the situation.  All the soldiers were worried, but there was no initiative to improve the chaos.  Only after about half an hour, a Palestinian came out, after talking with the soldiers, and began to organize the passage and everything calmed down;  he watched over the line, each time allowing two people to pass, and they got to work despite everything.  The soldiers were new and very young and it really wasn't right that they were put in this situation there.  The checkpoint kids selling coffee were wandering about and every once in a while a soldier who would open the gate for the school children or from the nearby neighborhood outside the fence, allowing them to go through the vehicles' gate.

 

We traveled to Kufr alDik and Zeita to get peoples' signatures who were on the GSS prohibited list on a document for the lawyer, hoping that the court would now allow them to work.  One of them worked for 8 years in Alei Zahav and suddenly, with no warning or opportunity  to appeal, had his license revoked.

 

09:00  Tapuah and Za'atra - Soldiers at the guard booth, but no soldiers at the passage and there was normal movement.