Tarqumiya

Tarqumiya, Tuesday 18.1.05, PMObservers: Orit B. Susan S.15.30 – 17.10Israeli ambulance standing on far side of boarder. Truck in place of one lane standing and barring this lane. As our wont we proceeded to where soldiers are stationed on crossing line, but were stopped by a soldier who asked us to retreat behind the red cement block about a 100 meters from their position. Explained that according to new instruction within these lines (between red block on either side) is sterile. We rang Hagit to check, and having checked with her contacts, she advised us that there are no new instructions. In the meantime a soldier by the name of Jarin who explained to us the following: the Israeli ambulance brought a 17 year old boy, "who was in Israel with no permit" had a work accident, a marble slab fell on him, he received first aid in Israel and an ambulance brought him to the boarder where under care he was waiting for the Red Cross ambulance. We left and the ambulance of the R.C had not yet arrived. The soldier also told us that there was a local warning and thus the special new instruction. When we explained why it was important for us to be within seeing distance he permitted us to stand half way. He also told us that the truck was carrying a stolen car that he personally discovered. We were a bit doubtful about all his stories and also we failed to see what was really happening at the crossing. In any case during this time about 300 workers passed through smoothly. One of the passers by came and told us that the day before he tried to cross, but had not alighted from his truck (he was the passenger) and thus walked to cross, a soldier whose name he did not know, told him to get out, return to the waiting area, and he (the soldier) if he feels like it will make him wait for an hour and a half as a punishment. In the end another soldier allowed him to cross after half an hour.