Rd. 5 Za'atara Huwwara' Beit Furik

Road 5, Zaatra, Huwwara, Beit Furik, Wednesday 26.4.06 AMObservers: Ilana H., Nina S., Hanna A. (reporting)It seems the “separation” or Segragation” can get still tighter. No need to change rules at the regular CPs that are dressed in mortar and cement. There are other ways and side roads to enforce the ghetto and man’s basic human rights.7.35 – 2 soldiers on the north side of road 5 near Azzawiya with 3 women, looks like Palestinians that are not allowed to be on this road.7.45 Road 4765 from and to Deir Ballut and Bruqin is barred, not by the iron gate that is open but by 3 separate mounds of rocks and earth, that have been spread across it at a distance of 10-15 meters, each about a meter high. On both sides of this roadblock there are cars and cabs. This used to operate as a road block, has been dismantled for quite a time and 4 days ago was reinstated.People arrive here from north of road 5 – Biddya, Haris, Jenin… on their way to Ramalla, Salfit etc. and vice versa.Talking to the passers we hear there are more blocks in the Bruqin area, Halamish and Ataara.The sights are hard – people of all ages have to climb over the rocks, with parcels, in their Sunday best. A mother carrying a new born in one hand and her parcel in the other, a little boy with his father, kids on their way to school and people on their way to work. All need to climb, no way around. One man said to us “we have gone back 50 years” and now a donkey seems the best means of transport.Some cab driver was wondering how come he has a license, saying he can go all over the country, can drive from Bruqin to Jerico but may not enter Nablus?8.10 – we left, next to the deserted house opposite Marda no army car. It was there, as usual, when we came back at 11.00. The gate to Zeiyta is open.8.20 Zaatra Junction: from West 23 cars, slow passing, people have to get out of cars before they are allowed to continue. From the North there are 30 cars, 3 checking points and one humanitarian line. To our question to the CP commander about today’s restrictions the answer is : “no body passes today, not even Jews”.People may not pass the CP on foot.A bus from Tul Kaarem, all passengers alight, it is checked and may continue.8.45 – Beita is open8.50 Yizhar junction: no flying CP, Neither on the way back.8.55 – HuwwaraThe Id checking station has been abandoned and IDs are checked at the physical checkpoint, supposedly by a separate soldier. This to fasten the checking says the DCO rep.We are not allowed to stand next to the detainee’s enclosure but there are no detainees.The Lorry with the screening machine is working.The restrictions are “as usual”, people for Jenin, Tul Kaarem and Nablus aged 15 – 30 may not pass northwards. IDs of young people entering Nablus are random checked.Not many are leaving Nablus northwards at this time.9.25 – Beit FurikThe CP commander is asking us to (please) stay away from the CP. We observe from the Sign warning us of Palestinian force activities.A few passers, only few cars cross. Upon arrival of a group of passers women are checked first.At the parking lot on the road to Beit Furik we are told the CP was opened today at 5.30 am, but yesterday it was closed between 14.00 – 18.30 and not even babies or women or the infirm and ill were allowed to go home.9.45 – HuwwaraNo cars in line.A mother with 2 very young children may pass, their father, being of the wrong age, must return. Another young person with a child in his arms may pass; a man with a bandaged eye tries to pass by the road, he does not convince the soldiers of his plight and is sent back to stand the line. A young man, apparently from Nablus but married with 4 children to a wife from one of the villages, is not allowed to go home. His ID is returned to him and he is sent back. A few minutes later he tried to leave on the path of those entering, with 2 others. They are stopped by the soldiers and detained. Some time later the older one of them can pass and they are sent back, eventually one of the young ones may pass too but the family man is barred from doing so and is furious and hateful.A Father passes carrying a old child all limp in his arms, he seems ill, but they have to cross and walk the long way on foot. An old man charring parcels, A man, his foot in plaster hobbles across and is allowed to pass without waiting in line but must walk all the way. An old woman walks with difficulty helped by a cane, a kid on crutches, and one woman that is helped carry her chattels by the guy with the carriage.An Ambulance is stopped for quite a while as he was “smuggling” something or somebody (we did not understand). In the end he was allowed to continue.10.50 – we leave Huwwara10.55 Zaatra – There are 42 cars in line from the North, and about 10 from the west. In the parking lot there are busses checked by dog and dog keeper.11.35 Road 5 -west of Zawiye, 2 soldiers (from the morning?) stopped a man, 2 women, an 8 year old girl and 9 day old baby (Nine days)!!! They are from the village Ra’i north east of Tul Kaarem , on their way there. They seem to have wanted to go cross country via Azzun Atma . This is not allowed. We did not understand where exactly they came from, but the fact they have to get to such a situation, hiking in the hot sun and noon is getting near and hot, a few days after giving birth, with the baby in her arms… The soldiers did give them some water. And we were even allowed to let the young mother sit in the car, after we were told to cut the engine (so we will not smuggle her away?) and feed the baby. We gave them what water and little food we had, but what is this compared with the misery of not being able to move and go where one wants and need to go??? Nothing helped, not even our call to the humanitarian centre. They were told to return along the road they way they came on and started to do so very reluctantly. The man was kept with the soldiers, (he was from a village in the vicinity)