Since 2001 we have observed dozens of army checkpoints on paved and unpaved roads in the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and along the Separation Fence; Civil Administration offices which grant permits to Palestinians; and military courts trying Palestinian prisoners. We stand at the checkpoints observing the behavior of soldiers and Palestinians without interfering, intervening only when soldiers behave offensively to Palestinians. Then we try to speak to the soldiers themselves or telephone...

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'Awarta, 'Azzun 'Atma, Beit Furik, Eliyahu Crossing, Huwwara, Jit Junction , Za'tara (Tapuah), Thu 14.6.12, Afternoon

Date: 14/06/2012 ,Afternoon

Observers: Shoshi Bernstein, Yehudit Levin (reporting and photographing

Latest reports:

Beit Furik

east of Nablus at junction of Route 557 (apartheid road forbidden to Palestinians, leading to Itamar and Elon Moreh), and Route 5487. Checkpoint has operated since 2001, seemingly serving residents of Beit Furik and Beit Dajan. In practice it only serves the residents of the settlements. One of the three permanent checkpoints that close off Nablus, together with Huwwara and Beit Iba.

Close description

Translator: Charles K.

14:55 Eliyahu checkpoint. No congestion

15:10 A soldier provides security for female settlers at the K’dumim hitchhiking station.

Jit junction. Settlers have pasted offensive posters all over a large boulder next to the road: “Israeli sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria.”

The Gil’ad Farm has upgraded the way it sends messages – with an electronic sign whose display constantly changes (we didn’t manage to read it).

15:20No army presence at the Burin-Huwwara-Highway 60 junction.

15:24 A soldier provides security for the hitchhiking station in front of the Huwwara checkpoint plaza.

15:26 The gate to Awarta is once again closed, as it has been for a long time, after being open for two days.

15:30 Beit Furik checkpoint. We saw no soldiers at the checkpoint.

15:40 Huwwara checkpoint. We saw no soldiers at the checkpoint. A soldier now provides security for the hitchhiking station at the entrance to the Bracha settlement. New settler slogans (banners) hang on the checkpoint fence, and at the Za’tara checkpoint as well.

Heavy traffic toward Nablus.

16:25 Za’tara-Tapuah checkpoint. Two soldiers in the parking lot guard tower. There were no soldiers at the inspection stations.

16:46 Azzun Atma checkpoint. A line of some 40 laborers wait to be inspected before entering the village.