Beit Iba, Mon 22.10.07, Afternoon

Beit Iba

The work of building continues. The slopes on the side are covered in cement. The checkpoint of cars passed from the crossroads to Qusin at the east parallel to the pedestrian area. The car lanes exiting and entering have been separated. One booth for  checking and two soldiers checking those entering and two those exiting.

A professional photographer of Tokyo News accompanied by an Israeli from Haifa films with no problems.  The Israeli who accompanied him tells us that they arrived half an hour earlier. The soldiers were very angry and threatened to destroy his equipment. The Israeli asked to speak to the commander  and explained to him that they wanted to film checkpoints and to allow them to carry this out. The commander asked them not to film the face of the soldiers and they were allowed to film. Next to the soldiers stood an Israeli who was connected to the building being carried out at the checkpoint. He was angry at us for being there and besides remarks such as "Don't you have anything better to do?" he suggested to the soldiers that he call in the police. The soldier explained to him that the police would do nothing.

15.10

 Pedestrians pass through two turnstiles which open and are locked every few minutes and then a few people get through. Those who have bags go to the table to have them checked  and then their IDs. The elderly pass at the side.  One of the elderly Palestinians who is in charge of the upkeep at the A-nagach university waits 10 minutes for his student daughter to pass through.

15.40 

A bus leaving Nablus is carefully checked and two soldiers get in to check IDs and this takes 12 minutes.

16.00 

The pressure increases because of many students who manage to get through the turnstiles by fours.