South Hebron, AM

South HebronWatchers: Paula, Yaara, Yeela + the two students: Dana, Eyal. driver - Taysir.Reporting: Yeela. Paula (translator)6:30 leave shoket. 6:50 Shima checkpoint - officer asked 'where to?', we said we're from MachsomWatch, he seemed not to know what it means, but asked if everyone has an ID, and without requesting them, allowed us through. 7:00 Dura-elFawar junctionfree movement of pedestrians, trucks and taxis across the block. no soldiers on the road, but there was someone in the pillbox. 7:05 Tzomet Hakvasim - very slight pedestrian movement. no army presence. 7:10 Shiyuch-Sair junction. we stopped and talked to the taxi drivers. they are still complaining about the numerous police traffic tickets they recieve and about their papers (driver's license) being taken away. today the road is open, and everyone can pass. they said that a couple of days ago they were told they could, and then that they couldn't and so on back and forth for a long time. eventually they gave up and went home. they said that we should be there at 8:30am, as at that time there usually is more control of police and army. we promised to return. there are roadworks on the road up to this roadblock. when we arrived there was a jeep - it was the first army ground (as opposed to pillbox) presence since we entered the west bank.on the juction into rd. 35 there were 3 sodiers, but noone was stopped or detained. 7:30 Halhul-Hebron bridge. we walked up to the bridge. we knew from the women who were there yesterday that it is in area A, and therefore we are not allowed to be present. the soliders and officer immediately approached us and told us that by an 'Aluf' decree we may not be present. we said that the day before it was ok as long as it was by the soldiers, and could we stay by them today too. the officer told the soldier to see if this was ok, and whatever the act or the response was, we were allowed to stay. also - we had a planned meeting with a member of Betzelem (which eventually did not work out) so we asked to stay around until he arrives. We stood there for 45 minutes. there was free passage for pedestrians. there were about 7 soldiers - one in the pillbox, and several by the open cocacola factory gate. during our stay 7 men were detained. by the time we left, they were still there. when i crossed the street to the soldiers, in order to talk to the detainees, i was ordered back to the other side of the road, across from the soldiers. the detainees were waiting for their IDs to be checked. one of the soldiers said that as soon as the search for a certain person or pesons will be completed, this block will be removed and there will again be car movement across the bridge. a young child (10 yrs) told us that the night before the bridge was open for cars for one hour - around 10:00pm. we waited for the Betzelem representative for 45 minutes, but gave up before he arrived. 8:30 Shiyuch-Sair Junction again. there were many taxis and pedestrian crossing. the road was open. the army jeep was there and left before we did. no extra difficulties. two people stopped to invite us to vist them and see their activities:We suggest that we accept these invitations, as these are our partners on the other side. 8:50 Tzomet Hakvasim - everything is quiet and no army presence. although we thought to stop and ask about the house demolitions in Yata, we chose not to because of the late hour. 8:55 Dura el-Fawar. the same. 9:00 Shima block - the officer asked for everyone's IDs, explaining that he wants to be sure we did not pick up any extras while we were in the west bank. we all presented our IDs, but the (Arab) driver was not required to show his. a nice change. 9:15. Tzomet Shoket.in the discussions with the taxi drivers in Shiyuch-Sair block, we were told that the roads are open only to taxi drivers and trucks, not for private cars (of course we are talking only about the Palestinian plates). and that the area they are allowed to drive is from Dura-el Fawar until Bethlehem. Israeli taxis are allowed in, but are harrassed if they choose to do so and take palestinian passengers. the presence of the students was pleasant and interesting, as they asked us questions about our participation in MW.