Jit Junction (vicinity of) Deir Sharaf, Beit Iba

Jit Junction (vicinity of) Deir Sharaf, Beit Iba, Sunday, 27.08.06 PM Observers: Alix W, (reporting), Dalia G. guest14:00 -- on the way from Qalqiliya The entrance to Azzun is still open, the concrete blocks are still scattered around, but free movement in and out of Azun is moving. Jit Junction – there are 10 vehicles in line waiting to be checked from the Tapuach side and 5 vehicles from the Rte 57, there are no detainees on either side. The unmanned barricade just before Shavei Shomron is now freshly painted in a bright green that we are told later glows in the dark. We find the wall surrounding Shavei Shomron is being continued, and further up the road the concrete check posts are standing, but the way to Jenin is still closed with razor wire and barricade. The soldier that comes down from the tower towards us informs us that they will be opening the checkpoint, but he doesn’t know when. We stop at Jamal’s mini-market, he tells us that it has been relevantly quiet today. School will be commencing this week, and most will start on Saturday, if there is no strike. We are told that the teachers have not been paid for several months. 15: 20 – Beit IbaWalking up to the checkpoint, some of the taxi drivers call out to us, they ask when will the checkpoint open to Jenin, their cars are being ruined by the bad roads they have to take. There are no vehicles waiting at all from the Deir Sharaf side. Approaching the checkpoint, the people are squeezed together along all three turnstiles, it is moving and within a short time there are few people. The women are standing in the Humanitarian line, which is also moving smoothly. The DCO D. that has been at Beit Iba the last few weeks is here, and says that the commander has the checkpoint ‘under control’ and moving. There are no detainees when we arrive, shortly one young man enters, and he is being checked. We see everyone is passing, but then when I ask one of the soldiers he tells me that Palestinians from 18 – 25 from Nablus can not pass. There is a line of vehicles from Nablus, but it is moving.