Habla, Isbet Salman
The Occupation’s Routine.
12:35 Isbet Salman, Gate 1447
The gate is supposed to be opened at 13:00. There is not a soul here at the moment. People are arriving, slowly, an old couple in a donkey cart, they are waiting far from the shed in the sun (see picture). From the other side a family with 5 children arrives, and from our side a car is coming just now. The father of the family, who came to join him at the hothouse to pass the time or perhaps to help him with his work. Slowly more cars arrive from both sides. Few of the people of Azoun Atma have permits to pass by this CP in their cars, going to work in their hothouses and in the za'atar fields. All those who pass by this CP – both ways – must cross the sewage pipe of Sha'arey Tiqva, which flowes all year round, and a vehicle is needed to cross the cesspool. It is interesting to note that in an article in Ha'aretz newspaper, about a week ago, there were complaints about the Palestinian sewage which poisons the underground water, whereas the "Israeli" sewage of Ariel, Sha'arey Tiqva and more are not taken into consideration. To quote a saying in Latin from many centuries ago: "not everything that is allowed to Caesar is allowed to a pig".
We are told that some cars have permits, but in order to transfer plants one needs a special permit which must be requested from the Palestinian , which in turn gets it from the Israeli DCO – if it is given at all.
13:00 Soldiers arrive and the driver waves his hand while driving, as a sign to the Palestinians to vacate the shed. What would have happened if he stopped and ask them to do it? That's beneath him. Then the CP commander waves us too to the sunny side. Let it be. In about 15 minutes everybody has passed, the CP closes and the soldiers go on to Habla.
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We too continue to Habla and when we arrive there we find that people, cars, tractors, and carts are already passing. This includes two cars loaded with second-hand equipment.
1
4:13. The gates
are locked and there are no more people waiting.