'Azzun 'Atma, Za'tara (Tapuah), Tue 13.7.10, Afternoon

IT WAS HOT AND THE HOUR A BIT EARLY, SO MOST OF THE SHOPS WERE SHUT, AND ONLY FEW PEOPLE WANDERED AROUND in THE STREET. WE AGAIN DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO SET OUT A BIT LATER.

3.45 BEHARAS
WE STOPPED NEAR TWO OPEN SHOPS, AND THEIR OWNERS INVITED US TO COME IN. SUDDENLY N.S., WHOM WE HAD MET A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST, APPEARED.

AS USUAL HE IS VERY EXCITED AND FULL OF (JUSTIFIED) CONTENTIONS AGAINST THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITIES. THIS TIME WE FOLLOED HIM TO HIS HOME, AS HE WANTED TO SHOW US DOCUMENTS WHICH PROVED THAT HE NEVER GOT THE MONEY WHICH WAS DUE TO HIM AS AN INHERITANCE FROM HIS MOTHER WHO WAS HOSPITALISED FOR MANY YEARS IN ISRAEL. THE DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT THE MONIES WERE INDEED TRANSFERRED BY SHEFER (CUSTODIANSHIP SERVICES) TO A JEWISH LAWYER WHO DEALT WITH THE MOTHER'S AFFAIRS AS CUSTODIAN, GOT THE MONIES (WE SAW LEGAL DOCUMENTS TESTIFYING TO THAT) AND THEN DISAPPEARED. NOW THE MATTER IS IN THE HANDS OF A PALESTINIAN ISRAELI LAWYER. THE COURT SUMMONED THE LADY LAWYER TO ATTEND A COURT SESSION BUT SHE DIDN'T APPEAR AT THE SESSION. IT MAY BE THAT THE MATTER IS DEALT WITH PROPERLY, BUT THE MAN SEEMED CONFUSED AND FRIGHTENED AND EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS VERY MUCH AFRAID TO TURN TO THE ISRAELI POLICE OR TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITIES. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE PETAHIYA AGREED TO CHECK THE STORY OUT WITH WHOMEVER MAY PERHAPS BE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

4:15 KIRA
WE AGAIN STOPPED AT THE CLOTHING SHOP WHERE, LAST TIME, WE MET A GROUP OF WOMEN. THIS TIME THE LADIES WERE NOT THERE AND IN THEIR STEAD WE METSEVERAL YOUNG MEN AND CHILDREN. THE MEN WANTED TO CALL THE WOMEN WHO PROBABLY WERE RESTING IN THE NEIGHBOURING HOUSE, BUT WE ASKED THEM NOT TO BOTHER THEM AND CONTINUED OUR TOUR.

ZEITA AND JAMAIN
ALMOST ALL THE SHOPS WERE CLOSED. IN SOME OF THEM THERE WERE CHILDREN, PROBABLY AS SUBSTITUTES FOR THE PARENTS DURING THE SIESTA HOUR.

4:45 INABUS
WE STOPPED AT THE SAME SECOND-HAND SHOP WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW FROM PREVIOUS VISITS. WE HAD LEFT WITH THEM A PILE OF CLOTHES WHICH ZVIA HAD PASSED ON THROUGH OUR INTERMEDIARY FROM KIBBUZ BEERI. AS USUAL WE WERE INVITED TO SIT. THIS TIME THE SHOP OWNER WAS THERE, AS WELL AS CHILDREN AND A YOUNG COUSIN WHO HAD WORKED IN ISRAEL AND SPOKE EXCELLENT HEBREW. WE UNDRSTOOD THAT THE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DAUGHTER TO VISIT HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS IMPRISONED IN ISRAEL. THE EXPLANATION IS SECURITY PREVENTION (???). IN THE PAST WE HAD REFERRED THEM TO "YESH DIN" IN ADDITION TO THE CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THEY HAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE CENTER, WITHOUT ANY RESULTS, AND WITH "YESH DIN". THEY VISITED THE VILLAGE, BUT ACCORDING TO WHAT THE WOMAN COULD TELL US THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THE SETTLERS' ARSON ACTIVITY IN THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES, ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE. AS THE HUSBAND WAS NOT PRESENT IN THE SHOP WE COULDN’T KNOW IF HE HAD DISCUSSED WITH THEM THE SUBJECT OF THE DAUGHTER'S BEING BARRED FROM VISITING THE DETAINED HUSBAND.

5:25 ZA'ATARA
THERE IS A QUEUE OF ABOUT 50 CARS WINDING SOUTHWARD. THERE WERE ALSO MANY CARS COMING FROM RAMALLA EASTWARDS. WE STOPPED FOR A MOMENT NEAR THE CP AND ASKED THE SOLDIERS WHETHER THEY KNEW WHY THERE WAS SUCH PRESSURE AND WHETHER IS WAS POSSIBLE TO OPEN ANOTHER LANE. HE UTTERED TWO NO'S AND THAT WAS THAT.

WHEN WE STOPPED FOR A MOMENT NEAR THE SPOT AT JAMAIN WHERE, A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE BLOCKAGE OF ROAD NO. 5 HAD BEEN REMOVED, TAXI DRIVERS WHO PARKED AT THE SPOT TOLD US THAT THERE WAS MUCH PRESSURE AT ZA'ATARA AS TWO DRUZE SOLDIERS WHO CHECK CARS VERY SLOWLY WERE STANDING THERE.

6:05 AZOUN ATMA
PEOPLE PASSED FAIRLY QUICKLY. WE SAW TWO PARRALEL LANES FOR THE CHECKING, AT THE PORTHOLE AND AT THE GATE.