Shomron Crossing
28/04/2013 ,Morning
Tamar S.,Dalia G. (guest), Aliyah S. (reporting)
09:45 We entered the territories by the Eliyahu Gate. Everything seemed quiet and normal.
Dalia asked many questions about the life of the average Palestinian living in a village. Nadim gave most of the answers. He drove through the village Jin Sap'hut so we could get a view of how they live. Of course, without actually meeting the people it was a very superficial look at their life.
The Huwwara checkpoint was empty as usual. The only soldiers were in the watchtower.
We stopped again at the beautiful valley on the road to Beit Dajan. Dalia picked some thistles to take home with her.
At Za'tara Junction (Tapuach) we saw one jeep in the center, but no soldiers were visible, nor were there any soldiers on any of the roads leading to or from the junction.
12:00 We left through the Shomron Gate.
14/04/2013 ,Morning
Sandy L., Ana S., Aliyah S. (reporting)
09:20 We went through the Shomron Gate. Everything looked quiet.
Za'atra (Tapuach Junction): On the road to Nablus, at the pick-up stop for the settlers, we saw a police car and a soldier. But we didn't see any unusual action.
Huwwara: There was a Brinks' truck parked in the huge, empty parking lot by the closed Huwwara checkpoint. We figured that the truck was there to meet a courier from a bank in Nablus for the transfer of money, either out of Nablus or into the city. At least there is some use for that huge parking lot. The presence of soldiers in the tower would give a measure of security against robbery.
A police car was standing at the Beit Furik checkpoint. Policemen were stopping cars and handing out tickets. As Nadim said, "They can always find something wrong with the car or the driver for which they can give a fine."
On the road to Beit Dajhan we stopped again to see the lovely pastoral scene. A shepherd and his flock were grazing on the hillside. Nadim spoke to him and he reported that the area there was quiet.
In Einabous and Jamain there was nothing unusual to report.
At 11:00 in Zeta we saw many high school aged young people standing or sitting in groups outside and looking at books and notebooks. My teacherly guess is that they had just come from a big test and were comparing their answers.
We drove to Kfil Harith to see the "Tomb of Caleb". The area was quiet.
We left by the Shomron Gate.
09/04/2013 ,Morning
Yehudit Katz, Naomi Bentsur, Dvorka O. (reporting), Nadim Translator: Charles K.
10:00 We drove to Deir Balut. Heading southwest on Highway 446 we see Jewish construction continuing on both sides. North of the road, on the ridge where the settlement of Alei Zahav sits, the neighborhood/locality (?) of Leshem is being built diligently. The same is happening south of the road, on the ridge where the settlements of Beit Arieh and Pdu’el are located. The tempo of construction is really frightening. On both ridges building extends almost to the junction of the road to Ramallah and Jerusalem, where there was once a checkpoint. On both sides of the road from there to Deir Balut are cultivated fields with well-cared-for crops. Let’s hope no one covets them…
Southwest of Deir Balut we see troubling new fence construction.
We came to Deir Balut to meet the coordinator of activities for women; about two months ago she asked to speak with us about possible activities in the village. In the absence of the elected local council head she was joined by the city engineer. She lives in Bidiya but works in Deir Balut. Nadim was very helpful translating and explaining what each side was saying. The city engineer speaks a little English, which also helped.
We told them about Machsom Watch and why we’d come, and heard a little about the village. It turns out there are almost no community activities for women – except infrequently, when outsiders offer help or training (non-professional) in various areas. We offered to teach English, handicrafts and perhaps lead exercise classes, and told them about the “Beach Days.” The coordinator preferred Hebrew classes. We decided to return in two weeks to meet with the women themselves to find out what they’d like.
12:00 On our way back we drove through the villages of a-Diq and Brukin. We saw almost no cars on the road and in the villages, nor any sign of the army.
We shortened our shift because of other commitments. Nadim was asked for his ID at the Shomron gate. We weren’t delayed.
31/03/2013 ,Morning
Ana S., Aliyah S. (reporting)
09:20 We drove first to Azzun 'Atma. Four men were waiting there, perhaps for rides to work. One said that the workers had gone to work that day as there was no closure. But they were not permitted to take their food - sandwiches in plastic bags - with them. They had to leave the food at the gate. (As if there isn't any non-pesadich food in all of Israel!) (Harassment for the sake of harassment.)
At Za'tara (Tapuah Junction) there was a regular police car in the center compound. Two Border Police soldiers were by the checkpoint on the road from Nablus, but the traffic was flowing smoothly. A military Jeep was opposite the entrance to Beita, but the soldiers were not in sight.
We drove past the Awarta checkpoint which was empty, as usual, and on to the Beit Furik checkpoint. We stopped and talked to a taxi driver right under the watchtower, but we saw no one in the tower. A military jeep was parked on the road to Beit Dajan.
We stopped at the side of the road to enjoy the scene of a valley of green fields. Although it was beautiful, Nadim explained that the grain growing there was not high enough because it had probably been sown late and the heavy rains had been in December and January. Then February and March were very dry. The grain was for feeding the animals. We enjoyed the view, the pleasant air and the wild flowers growing by the roadside. The thistles in bloom were lovely.
There were military jeeps on the road to Beit Furik and to Itamar. We noted a lovely wooded area opposite the DCO base. Since the base had been a Jordanian army base before 1967, the wooded area had probably been planted for their pleasure.
At the Huwwara checkpoint where we stopped for a minute or two, we saw one soldier coming from the watchtower and another soldier going toward him. They were changing the guard. One soldier came up to the car and asked who we were and what we wanted there. We showed him our tags and said Machsom Watch. He nodded and went on.
We drove through Einabus and Jama'in. Everything seemed quiet and ordinary. We left through the Shomron Gate at 11:30.
17/03/2013 ,Morning
Ana S., Aliyah S. (reporting)
09:50: We entered the territories through the Shomron Gate. Everything seemed quiet and ordinary there.
10:00: Haris. We entered Haris where everything seemed quiet. As we drove through the main street we were waved to a stop by a young man who knows Nadim, Saher Sultan. He is from Kfil Hares; he has a small grocery shop in Haris. His story: On Friday (15.3) at 05:00, the military entered Haris and arrested 10 minors (15-16 year olds). On Sunday, 17.3, at 03:00 the military arrested 4 more boys. These arrests are connected with the car accident on the road in which a very young girl was seriously injured. The mother, who was driving the car, claimed that it was caused by having been hit by rocks thrown at the car. The families of the boys do not know where they are being held, do not know what they are being charged with, have not been allowed to see them, nor do they know if the boys are being represented by someone. (All of this is in contradiction to the law for minors.)
Haris is a small village. Many of the doors to what may have been workshops or shops are closed and locked. There is almost no economic activity in the village. The villagers work and shop in Nablus. Some of them work There is a jeep and 3 soldiers at the entrance to Kfil Harith. At Za'atra, (Tapuach Junction) there are 2 soldiers at the checkpoint on the road coming from Nablus, but the vehicles are going through smoothly. There is a jeep parked on that road.
At the Huwarra checkpoint there is no sign of soldiers. The work on the traffic circle at the junction of the road to Bracha has been completed. It's quite lovely with 2 arches and 2 olive trees. Isn't that nice? There is a jeep on the road to Qedumim.
11:40: We left through the Eliyahu Gate. The young woman at the gate demanded to see our ID cards and asked what we had been doing in the territories. We said we were just driving around. (That's true, except for the stop for felafel in Huwarra. Very tasty.)
03/03/2013 ,Morning
Anna S., Tamar S., Aliyah S. (reporting)
09:20: We entered ther territories through the Shomron Gate. Everything seemed calm and quiet.
Za'tara (Tapuach Junction) was almost empty of military presence. There was one military vehicle in the center area and a few soldiers were getting out of it. All of the roads were open and the traffic was moving smoothly.
Huwwara checkpoint was unmanned. There were probably soldiers in the towers. The traffic was moving in both directions.
Beit Furik checkpoint was empty.
We saw very few military vehicles that morning: 1 in Huwwara, 1 on the road into Yitzhar.
Azzun entrance was open; the cement blocks have been moved aside.
11:00 We left the territories by the Eliyahu Gate. What we had seen was the routine of the occupation. What we had done was the occupation routine for Machsom Watch.
28/02/2013 ,Morning
Esti A., and Nava A.
Translation: Suzanne O.
On the radio they talk about the budding Intifada – around Nablus only the almond trees are in bud.
Azzun Atma
6:20 a.m.
'Today the roadblock is not good' say the labourers. It turns out that one of the computer stations is not working and the exit queue moves very slowly. Tens of people crowd around the turnstiles. According to the labourers the waiting time is over an hour. The soldiers are not prepared to put in place someone to take notes manually. According to them their business is to take care of security and order not the welfare of the labourers.
At the entrance to the roadblock there is a new red sign. It does not prohibit the entrance to the village, just warns that it is dangerous for Israelis to enter. Is this not pronouncing a verdict?
Sha'ar Shomron
6:40 a.m.
There is no police presence at the exit from Israel.
Za'tara/Tapuach
7:00 a.m.
There are no soldiers in the checkpoints.
Almost without our noticing it the settlers' buffet in the car park, which has been there for years, has been dismantled. One of those waiting for a lift says it has been removed because it had no licence. Has the law of the land reached settler country?
Yitzhar/Borin roadblocks
There is no military activity.
Beit Furik
7:25 a.m.
A military vehicle is parked at the side but does not interfere with the flow of traffic.
In the village itself the children are on their way to school. They have not heard on the Israeli radio that no schools are open on the West Bank so that the children are free to throw stones.
Awarta
The yellow barrier still bars the crossing.
Huwwara
7:30 a.m.
The roadblock is not staffed.
On the way up to Bracha – a soldier.
Za'tara/Tapuach
8:00 a.m.
Not staffed.
Sha'ar Shomron
Heavy traffic of lorries exiting.
14/02/2013 ,Morning
Observers and reporting: Esti A., and Na'ava A E.
Translator: Hanna K.
A journey in the landscapes of Ruben and Guttman (Israelis painters) – if one ignores the army and the settlements
06:20 Azzun Atma: A calm CP. It seems the squadron became adjusted to its assignments and the soldiers are less tense. There is no long queue of waiting people. The soldiers allow the workmen to pass the turnstile and to approach the checking computers and thus the waiting time is shortened. A magnometer was installed and we returned to the well known sights of unfastened belts and emptying of the pockets. This adds another minute of delays on the way to the contractor's car.
SamariaPassage: There is no police at the exit from Israel.
07:05 Za'tara/Tapuah: There are no soldiers at the checking posts. A group of border-policemen watches from the nearby hill.
Yitzhar/Burin CPs: A military jeep waits on the roadside.
07:25 Beit Furik: No soldiers.
The streets of the village teem with children on their way to school, the girls going up the hill and the boys going down and all are of course in the middle of the road because nobody has heard here about sidewalks.
07:30 Awarta: The yellow arm still blocks the passage.
07:30 Huwwara: The CP is not manned. On the road up to Beraha settlement there is a soldiers.
Yitzhar/Burin CPs: The jeep went on its way.
08:00 Za'tara/Tapuah not manned.
Samaria Passage: Very sparse traffic.
12/02/2013 ,Afternoon
Karin Lindner, Shoshi Inbar (reporting and photographing) Translator: Charles K.
A mini-intifada in Azzun
13:00 Habla. The gate opened on time. The first five people enter for inspection. They cross to Habla in five minutes. A pickup truck and two tractors, one of them loaded with seedlings, exit the village. They’re followed by a shepherd and his flock. All the Palestinians who arrive go through without delay. We hear about yesterday morning’s strike which was already reported on yesterday. A large group of Palestinians refused to cross because of the female MP’s behavior toward one of them.
13:20 Eliyahu crossing. No lines in either direction. A number of cars being inspected.
13:30 Azzun. The street is livelier than usual. Shops are open, pupils returning from school. Many vehicles on the main road.
We visit Z’s shop. After we give him the parcels, here’s what he tells us: About a week ago, children threw rocks at settlers’ cars. One rock hit and injured a woman. On Saturday night, dozens (perhaps hundreds) of settlers came to Azzun, threw rocks at homes and blocked the entry road. Villagers left their homes and burned tires. Many soldiers arrested the settlers. A number of Azzun residents were injured. A sort of local intifada.
This evening, Monday, we were told there was a new disturbance(Tomorrow’s shift should take note).
14:00 A military vehicle comes from the track leading to the guard tower, near Azzun.
We turn south, enjoying the white blossoms on the flowering trees and the green landscape.
We drive via Tulth, Siniriyya and Bidiya. We enter shops and a pharmacy, looking for someone who speaks Hebrew or English, but with no luck today.
We continue south. Red roofs of Yaqir, Revava and Nofim on the hillside.
We get on Highway 5 and drive west.
15:20 Shomron gate. A short line. Three cars being inspected.
15:30 Azzun Atma. The checkpoint is quiet. Everyone who arrives crosses quickly. A Palestinian who works at a quarry in the area says he believes there’s a great deal of confusion at the checkpoint when the military unit is replaced. It takes time for the new soldiers to learn their job and stop showing how tough they are. After they know what’s going on and no longer have to make an impression the crossing goes smoothly, without problems. The occupation routine.
31/01/2013 ,Morning
Esti A. Na'ava E. (reporting)
Natanya translating.
The good news is that there has been much rain and the almond trees are in bloom.
6.15 Azzun Atma. It's raining all the time. There are a few workers next to the turnstiles and they go through quickly. The "Kfir" regiment's soldiers are welcoming. The sergeant tells us that this morning when they came to open the checkpoint 50 people were already waiting but now there are fewer and they go through quickly.
Shomron crossing.There are no police at the exit from Israel.
7.00 Za'tara/Tapuach. There are no soldiers at the checking posts.
At the checkpoints of Burin/Yizharno military activity.
7.20 Beit Furik.No soldiers
In the streets of the village the rain washes the streets and we do not see the children going their way.
Awarta.The yellow bar is still blocking the road. Also the large boulder is still in the middle of the road.
7.30 Huwwara CP.is not manned. The flags at the top of the tower have been replaced.
At the ascent Braha settlement is a soldier.
Za'tara/Tapuach CP. Two soldiers shelter from the rain at the post and do not stop the small flow of traffic.
Shomron crossing.The checking is quick as allways.
