Beit Iba, Jit, Sun 16.12.07, Afternoon

Only a few days before Eid ul-Adha, also called the `big holiday', it is celebrated in honor of the prophet Abraham, the Moslems celebrate together with family giving gifts, family meals and being together. Even in the occupation and their constant oppression, they look forward to the holiday and what they can give to others.

14:45 Beit Iba

As arriving, there are no vehicles on either side of the CP. There are the two turnstiles with mostly young men, under 45 years of age, the women and older men pass from the humanitarian queue. The soldiers are checking IDs and all the bags, of the men and women, but men over 45 years of age are waved through. There are two large Israeli vehicles, one a crane and the other transporter, and a small tender from the same company. We see a new addition to the CP, a cement cubicle, looks like an external shelter at the top of the stairs (where the Humanitarian Post was). The Israeli crane company obviously transported and placed the cement block.There are many soldiers at the CP, it is difficult to keep track of them, they are moving around, back and forth gathering in small groups in a pow-wow. There are between 10 – 15 soldiers and two commanders. The CP is much quieter from last week, no shouting; the general attitude towards the Palestinians is civil. The vehicle CP is moving without much delay, there are not many vehicles, their IDs are being check, and some of the vehicles are being checked thoroughly, but the lines are moving. When leaving Beit Iba the queue entering Nablus is much longer, there are 12 vehicles waiting

16:00 Jit Junction

No CP