Awarta, Beit Furik, Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), Fri 9.11.07, Morning
Translation: Suzanne O.
At Beit Furiq they announced that the ‘white line’ is about 20 metres from the checkpoint. Our presence there was meaningless.
Za’atra
8:45 a.m.
There are very few cars. Yitzhar is not staffed in either direction.
Beit Furiq
9:00 a.m.
Immediately we approached the roadblock a soldier came over to us, pointed at the entrance to the inspection lane and proclaimed: “This is the new white line on the orders of the Brigade C.O.!” He spoke and left.
At the entrance to the inspection lane large plastic road barriers have been set up, i.e.: whoever comes from the direction of Beit Furiq has to jump over them or manoeuvre their way round them. We are about 20 metres from the checkpoints and there is no way we can see what is happening there.
A car on its way to the exit from Nablus is held up for a long time and then turns round and goes back to Nablus. Why?
As a joke, apparently, one of the soldiers dazzles us with a mirror which catches the rays of the sun. There are very few cars waiting in either direction.
Awarta
9:20 a.m. .
Empty.
Huwwara
9:30 a.m.
A taxi driver comes over to us in the car park and gives us a document written in Arabic. The document was hanging on the roadblock and informs the public of the Government’s intention to confiscate lands around the roadblock. Those who are affected are invited to present their objections on Sunday. The driver, one of the owners, says he won’t even bother. He shows me the name of the MachsomWatch woman Naomi Levita who asked him to pass the document to her, via another shift. As I was unable to get hold of her on the telephone, I attached a scan of the document to the report.
The traffic is light most of the time. When it builds up an additional lane is opened (after finally finding someone who knows the secret code). The dog handler and the x-ray machine are present – the whole arsenal. They ensure we stay behind the sacred white line. A woman with her head covered joins us. Not one of the usual, violent characters we have met. She monitors us but does not make contact.
On the way back Yitzhar is not staffed and Za’atra is empty.