Beit Iba, Jit

Beit Iba Jit Junction Sunday 27 May 2007, PM Observers: Aliya S., Alix W. (reporting)13:30 Jit JunctionApproaching the junction we see a Hummer across the road on the west side of the junction, there are two soldiers but no vehicles are being checked or waiting on the road. There is very little movement on the roads; we see few vehicles of any sort, approaching entering the parking lot of the Hawash Bros we feel an eerie quiet. Entering the carpentry the brothers that are working are busy getting work done, but comment that there is work but not money to pay them. They tell us that the army is in Nablus every night from 1:00 am till 6:00 am, mainly in the Jasmina neighborhood. One of the workers there at the carpentry gives us first hand information, his house was completely flattened, and he, his wife and baby had to move to temporary place in the old city of Nablus. They told us that F16’s are in Nablus every night and that the soldiers are throwing hand grenades in the buildings, according to the Hawash brothers this has been going on for the last 60 days. 14:25 Beit IbaThere are no vehicles waiting to enter Nablus and only a few trucks leaving Nablus. No detainees and very few pedestrians. The checkpoint – turnstiles – is empty. Some of the soldiers are familiar, there seems to be more than usual, but then we see that one of the soldiers is the Matak. Every so often a few people cross, even fewer entering Nablus. We notice that there are fewer students than usual; the ones we did see were carrying very elaborate architectural models. A donkey cart and a porter transporting a pile of pants. Exiting Nablus we saw only one bus, and that was a mini buses not a regular one. Even less movement from last week. Later talking to Abu Ghatem, he said there is no money so what can people do or where can they go.15:05 the checkpoint is empty from Nablus and to Nablus