'Azzun 'Atma, Thu 30.4.09, Morning

6.50 Azzun Atma

Two women soldiers at the checkpoint and one in the tower. Workers wait at the side of the road for their employers. A Palestinian who speaks Hebrew tells us about the new situation at the checkpoint. Work permits are given for three months and allow a limited passage from 5am to 7pm. There are houses which are on the other side of the checkpoint and also land and if one wants to visit one of the people in those houses there is no possibility of doing so. He also tells of a young man who had wanted to study at a university overseas and could not get a permit and now works in building. He says it hurts that one has to get a permit to work one's own land on the other side of the checkpoint. It hurts him that tourists from overseas and go all over and he who was born here and his father's father's father was born here cannot pass the checkpoint.

Children come and show permits so as to pass. Small girls in uniform. We ask what this is about and the soldiers say that a child up to 13 has to show a copy of the parents' ID and those over have to show the permit of the parents.

7.30 Marda is open and Seita closed.