'Awarta, Beit Furik, Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah)
Who broke through and why did they again lock the yellow arm at Awarta?
07:50 Oranit. Gate 1447 which is defined as an agricultural gate. We were happy to see that the soldiers were already at their posts and were in the course of the checking (according to them: We always arrive early).
In the shadow of the concrete shed two military policemen stand with a laptop. Each Palestinian who passes the gate presents to the road side his identity card/authorization to the first military policeman and then goes to the shed to be registered in the laptop. The checking is slower than last time.
The artillerists are not afraid to hold a conversation with us, but when the discussion reached the topic of our right on the country (Palestine) we bade them farewell and went on our way.
We noted that the Israeli contractors are waiting for the workmen near Oranit and only Palestinian cars proceed to the gate.
08:10 Shomron Gate: The traffic flows.
08:30 Za'tara/Tapuah: There are no soldiers at the posts. Borderpolicemen turn around the site.
There is a heavy traffic on the road coming up from Huwwara.
At Huwwara there are a few military cars from the Rear Area Headquarters at different points. Most of the shops are still shut.
Yitzhar/Burin: There is a military vehicle in the bay.
08:50 Beit Furik CP. A military vehicle watches from the hill opposite the CP. According to the soldier they activate the CP each morning. They check the vehicles and have already found knives and a pistol!
09:00 Awarta: Two weeks ago we were surprised to observe that the yellow arm was open. It seemed that it was broken by force. Not much time elapsed until it was repaired with the aid of coiled barbed wire. A car which arrived from the village to collect cheese containers from the solitary house, works in the back to back method which was customary here.
Till today I haven't understood why the arm is vital to the security of Israel.
09:06 Huwwara CP: The CP tower isn't manned. Soldiers watch over the hitch-hiking station of the settlers, from above and from below.
Za'tara/Tapuah: There is no checking at the posts.
Shomron Gate: The traffic flows.