morning

Sunday, 28.12.03, 7:00 AM JabbaraFanny H., Naomi K., Esti T. A stormy day, rain, cloudy, cold, mud, lots of puddles. The machsom with the pillbox, the clouds, all the military vehicles, obstacles, the soldiers and the puddles looks like a mirage. In any case, in three spots people are already waiting, hoping to pass. Each person to himself. A few people on the Jabbara side, from the direction of Nablus about 30 people, and from the direction of Tul Karem, 15. Depressing. We immediately went in the direction of the children's gate. This is exam period and the children go through early. The exam period started on 22.12. It is twice a year and lasts for 10 days. We managed to see 4 children hurrying along with umbrellas. Through the puddles they hurry to the gate so as not to miss the transportation which can be seen from afar. The children study in A-Ras, a village on the other side of the wall, on the top of a high hill, south east of Jabbara, near the settlement of Sal'it. The distance from their homes in Jabbara to the gate they cover by foot. On the other side of the fence, soldiers and a jeep are already waiting to receive them. The gate was open and the children go through. We found out from the soldiers that "there is an urgent warning, nothing to do about it." We returned to the machsom. Yossi from "Ituran" greets us, whom we have met previously. He also "scouts" and is a volunteer on the "seam", according to what is necessary at the time. He updates us on what is going on. There is a lot of tension at the machsom. The soldiers are very much on the alert. There are a lot of reinforcements. There is a specific warning on this road and this machsom. A gang of terrorists is making its way in our direction. We moved aside, in order to get out of the way. The Nachshon unit is serving at the machsom, Evgeny is the commander. "The Famous Evgeny" - he jokes. Why? "You photographed me for an article a month ago." ?? "I liked the picture, but not the article." "There is an urgent warning now, don't stand in front of me now." I moved. Reinforcements are arriving all the time, a jeep of blue police, senior police are sitting on top of the motor, waiting. The machsom is bursting with security personnel of every type, blue police, BP and lots of soldiers. Bus #038 arrives and a lot of security personnel get off it too. There is an order to move only in caravans of vehicles. "Freedom of movement only for Jews", Evgeny declares. It is 9 AM and there are already more than 100 people waiting on the eastern side. Today only residents of Jabbara are allowed to cross into Tul Karem, and even that with difficulty. They are very careful; it is allowed, but not to everybody, and only by foot, cars are forbidden. It is possible to enter Tul Karem, but not to return. The residents nod their heads, they have already learned to understand the unintelligible. Hasid Taher, a taxi driver, tries to decide whether it is worth it. His permit was taken 2 days ago because he transported a Jordanian citizen without a permit; he didn't know. He is being punished and his permit was taken away. "Disappeared", and now he must go again to the Matak and get a new permit. We phoned the Matak; they confirmed that he has permit, he only has to "come and get it." He hesitates. What will happen if he doesn't manage to return? Anyway, without a permit he can't work. Complicated. , The traffic only moves in caravans, and in fact only Jews move freely. The Palestinians wait around, watching what is going on. A strange sight. Depressing. The sun comes out, the skies clear, the atmosphere at the machsom becomes more and more tense. Noise of communications equipment, car motors, the bulldozer which never stops, working zealously, screeching. And in the midst of all this, a blue police uses the waiting time and stops a driver, an Israeli Arab from Tira. Takes his registration for checking. I asked the driver - why did they stop you - they are checking, who knows why?. The sun stubbornly refuses to comply with the crazy atmosphere at the machsom. From the horizon upwards it is simply beautiful, and from there downwards, tension and hostility. Two residents of Avnai-Hefetz, a settlement east of the machsom, are waiting for a ride in the direction of Netanya and Ramat Gan. A transit with Israeli plates arrives from the direction of Nablus, goes through a thorough check. North east of Jabbara, Izbat-Shufah at the entrance to Tul Karem, everything looks so peaceful. At 10:30 we left. We still went to check what is happening at the Qalkilya machsom, where the movement is totally free. All the tension is in the direction of Jabbara. We visited Azun; nothing special. Just very beautiful all around, the view, that is. Winter weather, the illusion of tranquility.Esti T.