Beit Iba

Beit Iba – Saturday 29/1/05Present – Tami P. Dalia R,, Odelia S.13:40 Beit IbaWe were allowed to stand wherever we wished. No problems at all.The place was functioning very efficiently, 4 detainees. Two of them were caught on the hills around. Two were released shortly after. Everyone was permitted through. Many people - lots of families with young children . The checking was fast and not too thorough. One soldier was very nervous and tried to maintain order by shouting at the people who crossed the carousels. Immediately the tension rose, but again people were allowed to pass. Twice we saw the soldier punish women with babies and children – he collected their IDs and sent them again to the end of the line.The DCO rep. was very efficient – he helped an Israeli Arab young woman to enter Israel even though she forgot her ID.One Israeli Arab who had a permit from the DCO to go into Nablus to visit his dying sister was denied entrance because the soldier did not read the permit as he should have done. It said that he was allowed in 27/1/05 – 4/2/05 and the soldier insisted that he was allowed in only on the 27th. Cry and laugh. We intervened and the DCO rep. let him in.14:00 More soldiers came to help ease the pressure. The flow was much quicker.14:30 we left on our way home.