Habla, Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim), Mon 24.10.11, Afternoon

13:00 Habla

The gate is still shut. There is a considerable number of people waiting, as well as carts and vehicles. It seems that in the beginning of the week the traffic around the gate is livelier than on the other days of the week.

13:11

The gate is opened late. The two gates (the northern and the southern) are opened simultaneously.A minor relief. Two Palestinians, out of their own initiative, improve the moorings of the open gates. Today the checking is not very lengthy. Yet three men are ordered with excessive resoluteness to retreat a few steps. As usual the people pass to be checked in groups of five. The children's bus passes at 13:20.

13:30 Azzun

No military presence at all, neither Israeli nor Palestinian.

13:45 Jiyus

We look for the southern Jiyus gate which is open between 13:45 to 14:00. A., a local, comes to help us. In his great kindness he joins the car as a guide. The unpaved road passes hidden in an olive grove. Without him it wouldn't have been exposed. He shows us the remainders of the former separation fence which has been moved as a result of a high court of justice decision. A.: "Many olive trees have been uprooted here for the fence. Without end. Don't ask. You have an ugly government. Will only make war. I don't know the name of the gate (Jiyus south) I don't want to know it. I have an authorization. I threw it away. I tore it up. The truth is that your ugly government is not interested in peace at all. (introduces a local lad) . They took his papers away. In order to pressurize him to work for the general security services. They want him to be a collaborator. You don't understand anything that goes on here. As if you Israelis have come from…I have no words in Hebrew to explain. (perhaps he wanted to say "as if you came from the moon"), nothing can be achieved under pressure." By the way, A. categorically ignored the repeated remark: "but your condition has bettered since the high court of justice ruled about the shifting of the fence". No. He is not grateful at all. What he remembers is the sight of the uprooted olives.

14:40

, Anabta CP – Prepare your occupation for the winter

The CP is closed because the road is being repaired, for fear of flooding in the rainy season. The road is hermetically closed. Here they do not act according to the custom of the rest of the world – enabling the passage of cars alternately. An Israeli Palestinian hisses: "they have no feeling. Why did they close the road altogether? Why, aren't there human beings here?" The road is closed for eight days. In order to arrive at their destination the drivers have to drive by way of a defective earth road. Not all vehicles are able to do that.  

15:00

Shuffa, The blockage is like a thorn in one's side 

The turning to Shuffa is decorated with Israeli flags, very proud ones, although there is no holiday and no Shabbat today. We meet Mr. Abu Ala, the head of the village since five years. Before he used to be a teacher in the local school. Near the obstruction blockage, which divides the village into two parts, we learn a lesson about the rules of communication under occupation. Taxis on both sides of the blockage coordinate by telephone. From lower Shuffa a group of beautiful young girl arrives. Eleven passengers crowd into the taxi to upper Shuffa, besides the baby in his mother's arms. Owing to our ignorance of Arabic, we rely on the assistance of a man from Tul Karem who mediates between us and Mr. Abu Ala. In order to reach work they are obliged to perform a detour of 20 Kms. Children go to school and from school twice a day (a distance of about five Kms in each direction). They do it hot days and in cold ones. They don't have the means to pay for 4 taxi fares a day. The serious problem in Shuffa is the blockage. The segmentation of the village tears families apart, prevent family relations, lengthens trips and makes them more expensive, separates people from their lands,cuts livelihood off. The blockage is made because of the Avney Hefetz settlement. The man from Tul Karem says: "the road is blocked since the first intifada. During the Ramadan month this year the road was opened for the first time for a whole month. There were no problems. Avney Hefetz exist here ten years. We – thousand. This road exists for thousand years. "

Although this matter has been discussed in the past, it is impossible not to dwell on it. Like Carthage, the Shuffa blockage must be demolished.

P., a man from Shuffa tells us that he received a demolition order. He built his house without a permit, because no permits are given. The building of the house was completed six years ago. Two months ago he got the demolition order. He was told: "if you have papers – bring them. If not – get out." He received a week's span. 

People tell us furthermore that they were ordered to uproot all the crops in a certain area. "They don't want anybody working his land."

16:00 –

Irtah, Sha'ar Ephraim

A building drive. Here too they prepare for the winter – awnings were build above the market that takes place in the passage itself. A building that has been erected a short time ago is intended for the trade in second hand vehicles. It seems a lively trade is taking place between the inhabitants of the occupied territories and their occupiers.

The stream of returning people doesn't stop. It is the hour at which workmen return to their homes. The passage path is also being repaired and therefore, according to the security person, they again pass through the building on their way back home.

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