South Hebron, AM

South Hebron Sunday morning, 27 June 2004 Watchers: Gili P. and Sarit H. (reporting) We left Shoket at 6.35 with our driver, I. We drove through Meitar (no blue - Israeli - police checkpoint here). At Eshkolot-Teneh junction, a parked jeep of the Border Police. We drove to Shim'a (Samoa) junction. The checkpoint is now manned by reserve soldiers, who were busy preparing their morning coffee, and barely paid attention to us. They only asked where we are heading to. The roads from Shim'a, through Daharya to Dura - Al-Fawwar are deserted. Dura - Al-Fawwar Junction: transit is free though sparse, a few yellow vans and some trucks crossed. The pillbox was manned by one soldier, but no military vehicles were there. Hebron-Yatta Junction: the junction is also deserted. A few pedestrians were crossing from Yatta to Hebron. The army invests extra time and effort in constructing the dirt and stone roadblock barriers. The passage from Yatta to Hebron is totally blocked by dirt and stones, and people have to climb up and down to reach Hwy #60. At the other side of the junction, there are now two roadblocks. The barrier next to Hwy #60 is made up of stones, but a small passage for pedestrians has been arranged. We tried to talk to two young men crossing from Yatta to Hebron, but they did not speak neither Hebrew nor English. Halhul-Hebron bridge: we arrived to the bridge at 7:30 AM. The bridge is open for vehicles. We got out of our van at Hwy #35, and climbed up to the bridge. Traffic was sparse, and we observed no pedestrians. The shops at the Halhul side of the bridge are closed. The access to the bridge from Hwy #35 is closed. As we departed, a military humvee arrived. Three tired and sleepy soldiers asked us what were we doing there. They headed up for the bridge, and we left. Shuyuk-Sa’ir: we arrived at 7:40 AM. At Sa’ir, by the girls' school, the roadblock barrier has been "improved" and now instead of climbing up, pedestrians can walk through a side passage. We crossed the road to Shuyuk, and talked to the taxi drivers. They told us that the army keeps harassing them. Yesterday one of them was detained for one hour. The driver told us, that when he told the soldiers that checking up his details may take a long time, the soldiers answered that they are not checking any details, only delaying him... no other reason. A short discussion between the taxi drivers developed. One of them said that if you abide by the road rules (such as fastening seat belts, etc.) the police won't fine you. Others said that the police are only looking for excuses to fine the drivers. The driver detained by the army said that the problem is that the police and the army take the car keys, the licenses and the permits until the driver pays the fine. But to pay the fine he has to go to Etzion [the DCO, IDF Civil Administration office], and in order to go to Etzion he needs a permit. When he finally arrives at Etzion, the officer in charge is not there. Other driver added that sometimes the army calls the police to fine the drivers. In short, the usual arbitrary measures and the usual "bureaucratic" harassment. Another important detail concerning transit and movement limitations: only drivers residing in the area are permitted to drive there. This means that the confinement policy also applies to whom is permitted to transport persons from one village to the other.We drove on Hwy #60. Only Israeli cars were driving there. We turned to Hwy #270. The army works overtime in renewing the roadblock barriers so as to obstruct the passage of vehicles. We were back at Shoket at 8:30 AM