Beit Iba, Anabta

Beit Iba & Anabta, Tuesday 11.1.2005 6:45-10:00Observers: Ruthie C., Elinoar B., Fanny H., Maya M. (reporting)8:00 - Beit Iba: Eight detainees, one locked in the cement cell. We arrived when a young woman and an eleven year old girl were not permitted to pass because the girl did not have documents. We asked what are children supposed to do, having no identification cards of their own. We were answered that they should come with their parent's i.ds. The prohibition of entrance to children because they were not registered in the adult's i.ds repeated itself about seven more times. Much tension was apparent between the DCO representatives and the cp commander around this issue. Specifically, the DCO representatives let the woman and girl pass, while the commander brought them back angrily. These power struggles took place on account of the detained. The commander was unwilling to talk with us, despite repeated initiations from our part. He also did not respond to Ruthie and Elinoar's remarks about the official detention time, but the check-ups seemed to be gradually less harsh. At 8:30 the detainee was brought out of the cell. He told us that he was locked up because he said he had to make it to an exam at 8:00. Another detainee told us that he was allowed into Nablus and now he is not allowed out, his tractor is in the olive plantation and he is afraid that it will get stolen. The number of detainees climbed to 17 before they were suddenly allowed through - first the adults with the chidren, at 8:35, then the rest at 9:15. Two students, who were detained last, were still held when we left. When we told the cp commander one of them had an exam at 10:30, he said: "he won't make it."9:45 Anabta: All was quite, "dead", as one of the drivers said. Taxis parked on both sides of the locked barrier, no passengers. People leaning on the iron arm, waiting.