Beit Iba Wednesday, 12.4.2006 AMObservers: Rina Z., Inbal R. Natanya translating. Beit Iba, 9.30-11.00The entrance to Nablus is forbidden to residents of the area of Tulkarm and Jenin, no exceptions for sex or age. Many students wait in despair at the side hoping that the orders will change. The line of cars in both directions lengthens, 20 to enter, 30 to leave. In the pedestrian lane about 100 people who have the right to pass are waiting. The length of time is about two hours and all those who stand there have been checked before at some other checkpoint. There are at least 6 soldiers standing at the checking area but only one or two are actually carrying out the work. A soldier who thinks he is a jester tries to make little “scenes”. He opens the book of a student and pretends to read, questions an 80 year old lady in Hebrew, passes another woman and behind her back shouts “Oh look at this one , 45 years old and pregnant.” 2 soldiers are guarding. From the closed cell of the military police shouts of jubilation can be heard. The commander is more interested in bringing order to the line than to the delay or to the efficiency of the soldiers. At one moment in time he nearly loses all control of what is happening. From all directions are little streams of angry people and he stops the checking until everyone goes back and stands in the correct place. The anger of the people is directed at the women of Machsomwatch. “This is terror” an older man says in English. “This is as bad as the explosions in Tel Aviv. It is as bad as weapons in Iran. If this is the way you Israelis behave towards us there is nothing to speak to you about. But it doesn’t matter. Your day will come. The Crusaders were here, the Turks, the English. One day the Israelis too will be history.” Phone calls to the brigade and the DCO this time bring quick results. A DCO captain arrives, speaks to the commander, passes the elderly and children quickly and within 15 minutes the soldiers are carrying out their duties properly and the line nearly disappears. He promises to deal with the long line of cars. We leave at 11 knowing the congestion will again begin at about one in the afternoon and in the hope that the DCO representative will remain there.