Deir Sharaf, Jit, Thu 2.4.09, Afternoon

Translator: Orna B.

2:50 At Jit Junction to Route 60 - no checkpoint.

3:00 Barrels Checkpoint - Dir Sharef

Heavy traffic, flowing slowly in both directions. No way through for Israeli cars.

A car belonging to an Israeli Arab family is detained on the way to Nablus. They refuse to go back and demand to be allowed to go to Nablus. The soldiers checked and verified it was not a medical case. The police have been called to have them removed. This one car blocked a whole lane and created traffic jams because vehicles from both directions had to alternate passing through one narrow lane.

A new road to Shavei Shomron is being built - an overpass (bridge) between Shavei Shomron and Kdumim. 700 Dunams have been taken from Beit Israel.

In a conversation between Hagar and the area commander he promised that the checkpoint will be open in the mornings at 04:00 instead of 05:00. We shall keep an eye on it.

According to the commander the exit blocade from Sara had been removed (the inhabitants asked the army to let them remove the blocade themselves, in a filmed ceremony). The Juneid checkpoint has been removed some time ago and the from there the entrance to Nablus is free.

A wanted person was caught at the checkpont before our arrival. He was held in a military vehicle by the checkpoint. According to the commander he was being transferred for questioning.

A change of shift at the checkpoint. Still practically no inspections. A vehicle is stopped every 20 minutes. A car from Nablus is delayed for 10 minutes, after which the document are returned to the driver and the car continues on its way.