Tarqumiya

Tarqumiya, Tuesday 18.1.05, AMObservers:Achinoam, Aviva W. (reporting)We arrived at around 5:50. On our way we saw a number of transits on their way to work. When we got there, I observed a new way of organizing the different traffic that goes through. There are more plastic and concrete barriers at the Machsom, and the Palestinians have to wait a distance from the soldiers, and wait for permission to approach. The officer and soldiers at this shift were calm and allowed the workers to pass as a whole group, as the vehicles arrived. About 600 workers passed through with little to-do on the soldier’s part. We talked to the soldiers, and I told the officer that I have witnessed quite a few instances of harassment on the soldier’s part. This shift was the first one, since I'! ve started my activity in MachsomWatch, where the people were treated nicely, and allowed through without delay. He told me that he can't guess what kind of ideas or opinions some soldiers have, and how it effects how they behave at the Machsom, but he tries to be fair and humane. After about 20 minutes, a taxi with Palestinian's drove up to the soldier, with their permits, and he gave them a lecture about how they cannot approach inside the vehicle, and that he'll let it pass this time, but they're not to do it again....We left at 7:00AM