Beit Iba, Anabta

Beit Iba 18.1 AMObservers: Ruti C, Maya M, Elinoar (reporting)8.00-9.30 – soldiers unfamiliar to us are manning the checkpoint, and the line is short and moving rapidly. Depressing routine. Few detainees released rapidly after checking of their papers.A Palestinian woman who is an Israeli citizen (from Jaljulia) comes over to us. She speaks no Hebrew and comes with a Palestinian who offers to translate. She has a sister in Nablus and wanted to go in to the town to bring her sister some money for the forthcoming festival. The soldier gave her a telephone number to call but that would take several days. We call Central Command in Jerusalem dealng with Israeli IDs and foreign passports regarding entrance to Area A. The soldier who answwers confirms that a request should be written and sent by fax to be checked and approved. But according to him instead of taking two days, the procedure may well take two or even three weeks because of the festival. And again, although permission was given in the past to write requests in Arabic and English as well, now once again only Hebrew is accepted. We wrote out the fax in Hebrew and hope for the best. The sister won’t be getting the money for the festival.