Tarqumiya

Tarqumiya Monday morning, 17 January 2005 Observers: Eveline V"V and Gillie P"OSummary: It was an excellent shift: smiley atmosphere (both for us and for the Palestinians), without pressure, yelling or any other ugly behavior that we usually see in checkpoints. It was an example for how things should be. May it continue!Even before we got to the checkpoint we saw 8 transits [multipassenger taxi vans], and we were happy to see that things were going smoothly at the checkpoint. We approached the checkpoint at 5:45 and saw a group of about 20 laborers passing through smoothly and quickly, at the side and not by the regular booth. We asked about this, and were told that there are no new regulations but rather that it all depends on the checkpoint commander, T. The soldiers introduced us to T., who is very nice, and he confirmed the policy. We stayed by the soldiers (first time that it was allowed)* and were happy to see the positive attitude toward the laborers: the IDs were checked quickly and with a smile.*[Ed. Note: often MachsomWatch observers are asked by the soldiers on duty to stand at a considerable distance away from the actual checkpoint passage area where they check the Palestinians.]We found out that the soldiers even let the laborers pass at an earlier hour than usual (at 4:30) and from that time about 400 laborers went through. While we were there, about 200 more laborers passed by. All of this, in a relaxed atmosphere, with smiles, jokes with the Palestinians and handshaking.At 6:30 -- 2 policemen arrived; we afterwards understood that they were needed to help prevent car theft). We also saw the buses of the families [going to visit relatives interned in Israeli prisons] start to come, and we joined them in the parking lot. This is a quite new arrangement and a better than what had been before, because now the children can get off the bus without any risk of their getting too near the vehicles on the main road. We spoke with A. from the Red Cross and with some other men. The families (3 buses from Bethlehem and 3 from Hebron) are headed to visit the Nafha prison.Around 7:10 -- 2 soldiers came to check the families. One of the brought chocolates to give the children and was very kind and polite while he was checking.We waited for 3 buses to be checked and then returned back home (7:45).Comment: This shift can be used as an example for how things can be!!!