Huwwara

Huwwara North and South. 20 February 2005 Watchers: Shelley M and Ditza Y. Reporting: Ditza Y.8.00 a.m. On the way to Huwwara: the roadblock has a busy queue of around 40 vehicles. 8.30 a.m:Huwwara South: traffic is light and the lock-up is empty.Between Huwwara South and Huwwara North a new sign is visible:“You are entering territory under the control of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Police Force is active in this area.”We hope that the sign is good news. Huwwara North: 4 are held. A student studying in Ramallah and 3 who work in Huwwara. They are released a few minutes after we arrive, after a period of 10 minutes in the lock-up.An Israeli Arab wants to leave for Nablus. He is not given permission. He says that he entered Nablus via Beit Iba. The officer: “So leave via Beit Iba”.Heavier traffic to Nablus from the South. Something new: a soldier who checks samples from the loads coming from the southern road block. According to him – because the lorry which should do it is not available.A father and his son of 17 are held. The son suffers from severe anaemia and the appropriate equipment for his treatment is not available at the hospital in Nablus so he has to go to Ramallah. The son does not have an exit pass. Another man is held, he too is on his way to the hospital in Ramallah.They were released within 12 minutes.4 new people are held. They work in Vidia and do not have exit passes. One of them – whose uncle was active in the Intifada – has no chance of getting a certificate. He speaks fluent Hebrew, seems to be a reasonable man. He says that he worked for many years in Rishon LeZion and his employer will give him a recommendation – but this does not help. He says that he is mature, has a family, has children, wants to work, to support his family and live quietly. He tried to get a permit with the help of a lawyer. He paid the lawyer 500 NIS and was to have doubled the amount had the lawyer been able to get him a permit – but he had no success. The only way of getting the permit: to agree to become an informer. He is not prepared to co-operate with the Israeli occupying forces nor with agents of the Palestinian fighters.9.15 a.m.More are held, they now number 10.3 young men want to get to work in an upholstery workshop in one of the villages in the area – they are sent back to Nablus. (The reason is not clear to us.)9.20 a.m.All of those held are released.9.35 a.m.We leave the road block.9.40 a.m.Huwwara South: Just a few people passing through the road block. As in the past few weeks, the way through leads to a carousel, but they do not get in the actual carousels. The way through is open to the weather and it starts to rain. The soldiers install the carousels and the Palestinians go through using them.A banker from Shoafat needs to get to Nablus. He has been waiting with his companion, a Palestinian, for two hours to get a pass from the DCO. The commanding officer at the roadblock, Tsachi, is trying to help him and from time to time he phones the DCO. The man also asks us to get in touch with the DCO, but the telephone is hung up on us because we used a Palestinian’s phone.9.45 a.m.We leave the road block.