'Azzun 'Atma, Habla
'Azzun 'Atma, Habla
The coffee kids are here, only 3 today. There is a short line at ‘Azzun ‘Atma; at Habla, a delay in opening.
06:15 ‘Azzun ‘Atma.
A lot of people are waiting outside already, but the line is very short. There are 2 inspection stations in operation (according to the soldiers previously there had been three). We talked a bit with the EAPPI people, who were on the other side of the fence, next to the village, in order to find out what happened here earlier, but they had arrived only a few minutes before us. The north gate of ‘Azzun ‘Atma was manned, but only those possessing a resident's permit, or an entry permit to Israel, were able to go through. After a few minutes, the military policewoman asked us to stop talking. It is forbidden to talk here. Speech disturbs the operation of the checkpoint! We stood at a distance of about 20 meters from the passage and inspection point. Crazy! We stopped our conversation quickly and moved a bit away. A soldier was also dispatched there to remove us further on, but this time we were stubborn and didn't budge. Clearly there are still soldiers ready to harass us for no reason.
07:00 Habla
We arrive and the gate is supposed to open at 06:30, but it is closed. About 60 people in line. Immediately, we make calls and are told that they will check, and then soldiers arrive and start to open the gate. At 07:10, the first person passed through. In a conversation with the DCO, we were told that the gates
in the fence which had been moved in the area of Famalya, Beit Jamal and Jayyus North were opened for the first time this morning (apparently one gate). We will go there this week to see it. Some of the residents can now get to their lands without crossing the fence, but the others, whose land is still imprisoned between the fence and the Green Line, will have to go by way of an even longer detour in order to cross the gate and arrive at their lands.
The crossing at Habla was fast this morning and, by 08:05, with a little pressure, everyone managed to go through by foot, vehicle, cart or wagon. At a certain stage, a bicycle rider went through, dressed in biking gear and a helmet, riding confidently along the fence road. Interesting to know who gave him permission to ride there? I would also like to not to mention the Palestinians who could enjoy the ride on a good road to their fields.