Beit Iba

Beit Iba, Thursday, 18.8.05, PMObservers: Sarah P., Roni K., Amira A. (reporting)Summary: A proliferation of roadblocks on the way, because of the disengagement, roadblocks for stopping settlers and to protect settlers. At Beit Iba – a suffocating feeling at the checkpoint: light traffic of residents, very few vehicles at the entrance, most of the vehicles passing through are trailer trucks. The explanation which we received from the Palestinians – fear of attacks by the settlers and delays because of all the roadblocks. The road to Jenin is blocked to Palestinians (by way of Shavey Shomron). There is no presence of a DCO representative nor does anyone answer the phone there. Hostile attitude from the checkpoint commander towards us: "Don't talk to them" (to his soldiers).14:30 – Funduq JunctionBlocked by the settlers. They brought a huge trailer carrying blocks. Dozens of them are standing and surrounded by dozens of soldiers and police who are trying to keep the road open. The soldiers are also scattered around the vicinity of the road.Jit JunctionCement roadblocks across road #60. Soldiers arriving with all their personal equipment in a bus to set up at the junction. The tent is already up at the sides of the junction. A gate is also erected toward the north. A tent and a caravan of settlers at the side of the road near the industrial park of Bar-On. At the fork to Beit Iba – rolls of barbed wire sparkling (to stop infiltrators into the settlements, it seems).A roadblock at the barrel junction on the way to Beit Iba. This is the entrance to Shavey Shomron and the settlements of the disengagement, Homesh and Sa-Nur. The soldiers have a notebook with instructions and lists of names of who is allowed to pass. Sarah Kliachko is not on the list, so we are not allowed to pass until the officer arrives who lets us through. The road is practically closed to Palestinians and Israelis not on the list.15:15 – Beit IbaVery light traffic; in the line of vehicles mainly trucks, very few private cars or buses today. Amjad, from the kiosk, claims that the residents are afraid of the settlers and the roadblocks these days. He also says the checkpoint is closed during this week at 19:00 and whoever is late must wait an hour and a half until he is allowed to pass. Other people asked when the gate closes. Seems like there is no clear policy.The checkpoint commander is totally closed off, like an armored vehicle. Not willing to speak to us, hostile to our presence and gives orders to his soldiers not to speak with us. Is there some connection to the incident of the student who died after being arrested and handcuffed at the checkpoint 2 weeks ago? The soldiers at the inspection point are quite bored today and bear down on the few passing through the checkpoint. The soldier checking near us goes through the possessions of those entering, both women and children. He turns to them with contempt in Hebrew, and expects answers: "What, you don't see that I am standing here?" "Come here, grandma." "What a pretty girl you have." "You are Moroccan, right?" One of those entering Nablus turns to us and reports that women and children are standing in the sun at the Anabta checkpoint, waiting 2 hours in line. Dafna and a German photographer arrive, and Dafna confirms this report. Buses leave Nablus. All the passengers are taken off and put through the turnstile, one by one.15:30 A detainee. They take away his cell phone, notebooks and pictures. Every notebook and picture is scanned by the checkpoint commander and the military police with amazing thoroughness and also taken to a GSS check.16:20 the detainee is released. Some of his documents are confiscated as incitement. He demands to get them back and we try to check the policy. Answers from the humanitarian hotline and M., the spokesman, "These are indeed the policies." and the materials are being inspected. The youth gives in at the end and leaves. The photos were of Palestinians who had been killed and of prisoners.15:40 A Palestinian arrives on the way back to Nablus, but without an ID and his passport is torn. He is sent back where he came from. We try to help. At the DCO they don't answer during our whole shift, and there is no representative around! Telephones to the Hotline for the Individual and the humanitarian hotline. The answer: his wife should come from Nablus and identify him, then he will be allowed to go home.16:20 His wife comes and ransoms him.16:15 It seems this is a wedding day and 3 groups of celebrators arrive at the checkpoint. They try to enter in the taxis which brought them, but taxis are not allowed through (if they are not registered) and the parties, with their bags of henna and their darbukas go through on foot, while the taxis return after them. One group comes from Sarra and another on the way to Tubas. Because of the closure on the road to Shavey Shomron, they are going by way of Nablus it seems.16:45 The soldiers announce that there is a "hot alert." This is the opportunity for the armored commander to get us away from the inspection stations. The tank by the side of the road roars and goes in the direction of Nablus. Stops those leaving Nablus because of a "operation" (as the spokesman Y. told us later) and everyone is directed to a side way around the village of Beit Iba (an additional half hour). But things are "easy" at the checkpoint. No sign of anything special there – We complain to Y. about the lack of presence of the DCO at the checkpoint.18:00 A break at the kiosk. The vegetable dealers complain about the long road that they have to take because of the closure of the road to Jenin and all the roadblocks. This affects the condition of the produce. One of the drivers bringing vegetables to Nablus cannot pass in. He and his friend also tried at Huwwara and look discouraged.18:30 On the way back in the direction of Anabta: a cement block roadblock next to the quarry (beneath Ramin, I think).