'Azzun 'Atma, Habla, Huwwara, Tue 29.11.11, Afternoon

Translator:  Charles K.

13:45  Habla gate:  Some women with permits want to cross to visit someone who’s given birth, bringing plastic bags with gifts – clothes.  They’re not permitted to take two of the bags through.  The explanation:  “Clothing isn’t permitted through this checkpoint.”  The answer from the DCO:  “We’ll handle it.  You don’t have to call us again.”  Bottom line – the gate closed, the bags were sent back.  Another explanation: “Merchandise isn’t permitted through this checkpoint.”

14:30 –  Checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Sara.

14:40 – Soldiers cross from one side to the other in front of the Huwwara checkpoint.  Traffic flows though the checkpoint itself without any soldiers present.

15:45 – Azzun Atma.  Cars with yellow license plates (no others) speed along the road.  It’s too dangerous to cross the road to the checkpoint – of course, there’s no pedestrian crossing.  The fence next to the checkpoint abuts the road, alongside it a single line of people (there’s no room for anything wider) that keeps getting longer as workers are dropped off by their employers.  There’s a line only in one direction.  The soldier explains:  A double line is dangerous for the soldiers.  They could be stabbed.  The line keeps getting longer, and as darkness begins to fall it numbers more than one hundred persons.  Before we left we asked one of those at the end of the line to call us when he gets through the checkpoint.  He’d arrived at the checkpoint at 16:30.  We left at 16:45.  He called at 18:00.  The response from the humanitarian office:  The problem – which the higher-ups are aware of – will soon be solved.  God willing.

As we said, there was no line on the other side, so the view wasn’t spoiled.