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

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Observers: 
Observing and reporting: Esti A., Shosh D., Nava E., Translator: Charles K.
Nov-7-2013
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Morning

 

A long weekend in the Palestinian Authority because of the new year.  Children aren’t in school and few cars on the road at this early hour.

 

06:25  Azzun Atma:  The situation at the checkpoint is bad today. About 50 laborers on their way to jobs in the settlements despite the holiday crowd in front of the revolving gate.  Only one of the two inspection stations is operating, two computer terminals instead of four.  The laborers, who’ve already waited on line more than an hour and a half, say it’s been like this for two weeks.  We don’t know the reason.  Because most of the soldiers wear yarmulkes?  Cuts in the defense budget?  And – the checkpoint doesn’t always open at the same hour – the Palestinians say it sometimes opens at 05:30, sometimes at 06:00, or at 07:00.  It was hard to get any information from the soldiers.  They said we’re distracting them from their job…  We couldn’t avoid hearing the dissatisfaction about the congested line.  The laborers pushed one another toward the revolving gate.  The situation seemed about to explode.

 

Shomron crossing:  No police at the exit from Israel.  A long line of settlers on their way to work.

 

06:50  A military vehicle waits at the entrance to Marda.

 

07:00  Za’tara/Tapuach:  We didn’t see any soldiers in position.

 

Yitzhar/Burin checkpoint:  No military activity.

 

07:30  Beit Furik:  No soldiers at the checkpoint.  No pupils on the village streets.  Shops gradually open.

 

Awarta:  The yellow iron bar blocks the road.

 

07:40  Huwwara:  The checkpoint isn’t manned.  A soldier is on guard at the road up to Beracha.

 

Yitzhar/Burin checkpoints:  No soldiers.

 

Za’tara/Tapuach:  No inspections.  Border Police soldiers sit in the parking lot.  The dog handler didn’t come today.

 

Shomron crossing:  Traffic flows.