Deir Sharaf, Mon 5.10.09, Afternoon

15.40 The new road to Shave Zion is already 'open' though not yet paved.  At the checkpoint soldiers stand on both sides of the road but traffic flows freely, without checking.  There is no comparison with the humiliating treatment in the past of people entering and exiting Beit Iba.  But what do we know of what happens out of our sight?

A command car approaches and a soldier asks if he can help. "Are you from Machsomwatch?" and he greets us in a friendly manner.  Some distance away Hamdan waits for us and he gets questioned.  But after he answers the commandcar continues on its way.