'Azzun 'Atma, Beit Furik, Habla, Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), Thu 10.1.13, Afternoon

Translator:  Charles K.

A very cold day after a stormy week.  Snow on the peaks of the high hills near Nablus.  Because of the cold and school vacation we didn’t see the usual heavy Thursday traffic on the road.

13:35  Habla checkpoint– The gates should be open at this hour by decision of the army but (sometimes) you see that the large gate is locked.  A small gate on the side is open for pedestrians.

One of us goes over to see whether, on the large gate intended for horse carts, flocks and vehicles, the chain is locked – a female soldier reprimands us, demands we distance ourselves.

13:50  Eliyahu checkpoint– Very cold.  The police who are usually at the entrance aren’t here.  We see almost no military vehicles, but an army jeep comes in our direction on Highway 60 not far from the junction with the Huwwara-Burin road.

14:20  Huwwara checkpoint– Few vehicles at the 

crossing.  We saw no soldiers outside, except for

one at the hitchhiking stationnear the Beracha

settlement.  “Decorative” renovations at the

checkpoint plaza.  Who pays for them?  Who’s

supposed to enjoy them?

14:24  Awarta checkpoint–

The road from here to Nablus is closed, as usual. 

14:28  Beit Furik checkpoint– We saw no soldiers.

15:15  Za’tara checkpoint– Two border police soldiers stand outside the checkpoint next to settlers waiting at the hitchhiking station in the direction of Huwwara.

15:30  Shomron checkpoint– Three long military trucks at the entrance to Palestine.

15:35  Azzun Atma checkpoint– Construction laborers don’t work on stormy days, so very few are returning. 

.