Beit Iba

Beit Iba, Tuesday, 22.11.05, PMObservers: Racheli B-A., Fathiah A., Chana C.14:10A roadblock at the Jit Junction, going west; about 15 vehicles waiting.14:30The road to Beit Iba, before the turnoff to Mevo Dothan: another annoying roadblock for people leaving Nablus; similar number of vehicles.14:20Beit Iba: a moderate line of pedestrians, regular pace. A. is there. The line of vehicles is depressing: a student complains that he has been waiting an hour for the bus; the bus driver coming from Nablus claims that he has been waiting an hour and a half today – yesterday, about 2 hours. At the exit from Nablus, before the pedestrian checkpoint: filth and puddles blocking the way which has already become an environmental object crowned with refuse. In response to our question about the line of cars, the soldier at the exit from Nablus explains that it is “under control”.After the checkpoint, the inspection station: a bus has been waiting a long time and causes a buildup in the line of vehicles after it. We ask why not separate it, and meanwhile pass the rest of the vehicles through. They answer that there “isn’t enough manpower.” We returned to the checkpoint for pedestrians: 7 soldiers wandering around (the typical picture of false unemployment. When we ask about it, we get the astonished reply, “It isn’t our job”.)Meanwhile, at the pedestrian checkpoint we asked about the hours for the checkpoint operation. R., the commander (who keeps repeating the question, “Who told you my name is R.?”), does not cooperate and simply keeps an arrogant distance. The question arouses disagreement of varying intensity: H., from the humanitarian hotline: 5:00-19:00; R., finally, 6:00-20:00; D., from the DCO, 6:00-20:00 at the exit, until 23:00 at the entrance; or 6:00-20:00 in both directions. Final. How are the Palestinians supposed to know?15:20Questions concerning the vehicle checkpoint for D., G. (the spokesman), and H. They promise to look into it.15:40A young man arrives whose ID was taken at 10:00 in the morning, from the bus going from Nablus to Qalqiliya, when it was stopped at the flying checkpoint next to Beit Iba. Trying to clarify the situation does not help at this point.16:40We left. 16:50-16:55The flying checkpoints are still in operation: at Mevo Dothan there are about 5 vehicles, at Jit, about 10.17:30A telephone from D.: the ID has been located. She will pass it on to the Palestinian contact office.