Beit Iba

Beit Iba 20.1 AMObservers:Tal B, Ofra C, Micky P, Yudit A (reporting)8.30 – at the border crossing in addition to border policemen there is heavy police presence. Jews go through, Israeli Palestinians are checked.Jit junction8.45 – unannounced checkpoint, sparse traffic, one taxi being checked.Beit Iba9.30 – no crossing, festival traffic – parents, children and infants in festive clothes, loaded down with belongings crossing the sterile security area in front of the checkpoint and beyond it. Women and children go through, older brothers and young fathers and every Palestinian male between 15 and 25 are barred. The regulations are applied strictly, spoiling the holiday atmosphere. The soldiers are rude, aggressive and violent, and say they have received orders not to talk to us. It seems, however, that our presence has some moderating effect as regards their attitude, but no more than that. The DCO representative is flexible and allows some to go through, the soldier prevents it.5 detainees, all being checked for over an hour. When we enquired, we heard the familiar reply “Let them learn a lesson." One of the detainees was being punished for not remembering his ID number.11.30 – we left.