Beit Ummar, Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Huwwara, Nabi Yunis, Mon 9.11.09, Morning

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Observers: 
Gal L., Chaya O. (reporting)
Nov-9-2009
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Morning

06.50 AM, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: five inspection stations were open. People told us that everything went smoothly today (was this connected with Bibi's visit to the USA ?).

 

07.30 AM, Chusan: we received and distributed documents concerning police matters.

 

08.15 AM, the northern entrance to Halchul (Huwwara), on Road No 60: this entrance has been closed-off by an earthen embankment and large stones since the year 2000. From time to time the inhabitants of the village flatten the barrier, and then a car can climb over it carefully and descend on the other side. Of course, an army bulldozer quickly rebuilds the pile of earth. Last Monday, we saw a car crawl up our side of the barrier and disappear on the far side.

Today we saw that the barrier had been enlarged to an enormous height, and this had apparently been done during the last few days. However this morning a military bulldozer broached a genuine pathway in the middle of the barrier, so that cars could pass through freely, and get onto Road No 60. However, there is only a continous white line on the road, and not a broken one, so the Palestinians can only drive in the direction of Be'er Sheva. The mayor of Chalchul and some other people watched the broaching of the barrier. (Was this also connected with Bibi's visit to the USA ?).

 

08.30 AM, Beit Ummar:  we gave some advice about police matters..
 

 

09.00 AM, Nabi Yunis:
 

 

09.30 AM, Etzion DCL: there were only a few people sitting in the waiting hall. We were told that there was no-one to deal with police matters at the DCL all this week, because the policemen were away on a course. We met a man from Majba'ah, a village next to Tsurif. He told us that the center of their lives is in Tsurif : the school, doctor, commercial center etc. However, they are separated from Tsurif by two earthen barriers and stones 500 meters apart. Therefore, even “back-to-back” transfer (ie from one vehicle to another) is impossible, and gas cylinders and so-forth have simply to be carried the whole distance on peoples' backs. Exit by car from Jaba'ah is only possible in the direction of the road which connects the settlements of Gush Etzion with Road No 60. Therefore, in order to get to Tsurif by car one has to drive around approximately half of the Hebron district. The man requested that (more) MachsomWatchers should come and see the above barriers with their own eyes.