Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), Tue 4.12.07, Afternoon
Natanya translating.
14.05 - 14.25 Za'tara (Tapuach) Is open with 13 cars and Yitzhar has no checkpoint.
14.15 Huwwara.
Some 10s of people milling around and three checkpoint posts and one humanitarian and it seems that there is a steady stream. One detainee, S. M. and we try to find out why.
14.30 A young man who speaks Hebrew is detained. There is a violent argument about procedure and order. The man says he was polite and the soldier says he was rude and pushed. Those in the line refuse to go forward until he is freed. Our presence becomes problematic until Dina speaks to the commander and calms things down. The commander says the man was caught with a large knife and ammunition.
14.40 A telephone conversation with the centre. T., the DCO representative says that the young man is problematic and is being detained for questioning.
15.19 Beit Furik. Few cars and no lines.
15.40 Back to Hawwara
Where there are 2 detainees. We come towards the end of the questioning of the young man with the knife. The second man the interrogator (commander of the unit) says that he spreads lies and says that he should be detained for as long as possible. An interrogator arrives and asks us to move away as we make the suspected man tougher. He tries to take details from us but goes back to his work and afterwards speaks to us about the authority of the orders. We see a big knife and a bag of bullets which are passed on as proof together with the man who is to be interrogated by the secret service.
16.30 The lines move steadily though there is crowding as the afternoon has drawn in and there are more than 60 people.
Dina suggests... All those going to the checkpoint should be given a paper with the agreement which has been reached with the army....about photographing, where we can stand so that we can show them when there is a problem. And we ask what the law is concerning a Palestinian who is detained for questioning. If he has the right to remain silent, the demand for a lawyer and his right to inform the family that he has been arrested.