Jubara

Jubara, Tuesday AM 28.12.04Observers: Ruthie C., Maya M., Elinoar (reporting)06:45 -11:00Early in the morning all seems quiet. The school-buses are just leaving. The contractor, or foreman in charge of building the new apartheid underpass apparently helped Abu Khatem the cafe owner build his kitchen garden. According to him, when Jubara is returned to the Palestinian Authority, the wall will pass right behind the Abu Khatem's house. He claims to have been very careful about moving the olive trees to their new location.A farmer from Jubara complains that the police harass him and the other land-owners: to pass to Tulkarm with their products they must make a long detour, almost to Avney Hefets, because the police ambush them and give them traffic tickets when they try to cross the traffic island. Another thing is that when he goes to Tulkarm to sell his vegetables the soldiers make him wait till everybody has come out, only then do they let him in. By then it is too late for the market.We left for Beit Iba. Back in Jubara at about 11:00, we see a very long line of cars and taxis waiting at the exit from Tulkarm. A peculiar sentry-box has been erected for the soldiers who check the people who go in: it is very high, and the Palestinians have to strain when presenting their papers.