Huwwara south

Huwwara South Thursday PM, 10.2.05Observers: Ofra T., Nili P. (reporting)Guest: Carmel, from "Shvil Zahav (the Golden Way)"14:00The turnstiles are not operating. A short line of Palestinians wanting to cross. A holiday. New soldiers from a paratroopers unit are manning the checkpoint for the past 2 days. The checkpoint commander, Sargeant A., is very involved with everything that is happening, and the soldiers turn to him every moment that something is not clear to them. One inspection station is operating. According to the checkpoint commander, there is a lack of manpower. 2 soldiers are checking the cars in their lane, and they are also the ones inspecting the contents of packages and suitcases borne on the wagons by the "rickshot". There is an iron gate attached to the detention shed, which is blocking its exit. Something new. The gate is not locked, but, during our shift, I overheard a soldier say to a detainee that he would close the gate.Only a few women ask to cross through the checkpoint today. All the men are checked in the passage, but the few women pass through without inspection, except for those whose traditional costume arouses the suspicion of the soldiers. For example, I was asked to peek under the veil of 2 women in order to verify that they were in fact women. Of course, I wouldn't have considered really checking them, not even pretending to. They passed. There were no female soldiers to do the inspection.Something else that we haven't seen for a long time, in our shifts, was the soldiers' ordering the Palestinians to open their coats. Maybe since the youth with the explosives belt, they are more sensitive to this. It is upsetting to see this. (It happened twice during our shift).14:303 detainees. Two of them are released almost immediately. The soldiers pass the ID right away for inspection, and don't keep them any longer than that. Once in a while a line forms of 15-20 people. But it is finished in a few minutes.14:45An elderly woman, accompanied by her adult son reaches the checkpoint. She doesn't feel well and leans on the cement wall – after her inspection. They are waiting for their suitcases which are in the rickshaw wagon being inspected. Because of the lack of manpower, the soldiers don't have time for that. There is always need of 2 soldiers, one to guard. At our request, the commander takes one soldier away from the car inspection line to do the suitcase check and then they leave the checkpoint.14:55A Palestinian man approaches from the line of cars, with a girl in his arms. He asks to speed up his passage. He says that the girl is sick and needs a bathroom. The commander sends him to the bathroom there, but the father refuses and says that it is too dirty. We explain to the checkpoint commander that all he wants it to speed up the inspection of his car; he agrees. During the inspection, it turns out that he doesn't have the proper permit for his car. The checkpoint commander orders the soldiers to tell him to take a taxi. The man approaches the commander and argues with him. He has a press pass. The commander checks on the telephone and then lets them through.15:105 detainees, 4 of them are quickly released.16:00We leave the checkpoint.