'Awarta, 'Azzun 'Atma, Beit Furik, Burin (Yitzhar), Huwwara, Shomron Crossing, Za'tara (Tapuah), Thu 16.6.11, Morning

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Observers: 
Tziyona R. (guest) Esti W., and Naava A.
Jun-16-2011
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Morning

Translator: Hanna K. 

You won't believe it – Huwwara CP is closed for two weeks but for good reasons.

06:25 Azzun Atma:  A long queue of workmen. Nearly hundred people plod along patiently in the direction of the turnstile. The Palestinians say that they have been waiting nearly an hour. The soldiers on the site do not tend to talk to us. The wire gate is wide open, and from time to time Palestinians pass through into the village.

At the Shomron crossing there are blue policemen at the way out from Israel.

The entrances to Marda and Zeita are open.

07:00 Za'tara/Tapuah: There is nobody at the posts. There is an undisturbed flow of traffic. At the parking area a few border policemen group together.

07:10 Yitzhar/Burin CPs:  Two military vehicles are waiting.

07:15 Huwwara CP: Big signposts direct those travelling to Nablus towards the Awarta CP and at the entrance to the Huwwara CP there is a big plastic barrier and a big sign No Entrance. As we were with a guest, we squeezed through the narrow opening and entered the deserted parking lot to explain to her what had been there before. Within a short while a young soldier arrived to find out what we were up to. He answered our question by explaining that the Palestinians were repairing the road to Nablus and that was why the the CP was closed and all the traffic went through Awarta.

Awarta: The yellow arm is wide open and the traffic to Nablus passes through it. We used the opportunity and visited the deserted parking lot of the "back to back" without any feelings of nostalgia.

We phoned the DCO to ask about the changes. The young woman explained to us that the work on the road would last about two weeks and after that the yellow arm would again be closed.

07:50 Beit Furik: At the entrance to the village there is work being done to enlarge the entrance road (a clear sign that there will be elections soon). There is no IDF presence at the CP and the traffic flow without hindrance.

0800 :  Burin/Yitzhar: At the road margin one military vehicle remains and it seems that all its passengers sleep soundly.

08:15 Za'tara/Tapuah:  A group of border policemen at the posts. Cars are being checked. When we asked they explained that they are patrolling. They make a round of the area and from time to time arrive at the checking posts and surprise the drivers.

At the Shomron crossing the checking at the entrance to Israel is cursory as usual.