Irtah, Jubara, Anabta, Tuesday AM, 30 May 2006 Watchers: Elinoar B., Ruthi C., Maya M. (reporting)Irtah – 06:00 – 06:40 The gate opened today at 05:45, after a few weeks of almost no traffic. Palestinians from Jenin, for whom this is the exit, leave home early and are waiting from 04:00. The way from Qalqiliya opens early, so that long hours are spent waiting. We met an employer from Zofin who complained that the checkpoints in the Territories cause delays for produce, and there should only be checkpoints at the entrance to Israel.Jubara – 06:45 – 07:30 The Tulkarm roads are blocked, with no traffic at all. At the entrance gate to Jubara stands a man with a hoe, who asks us to try for him to be allowed to enter Jubara to work. Our attempts did not bear fruit, and he asked us for money. At Gate 22 only a few day laborers are crossing. There are still no permits for laborers from Faroun, who can’t work in Jubara. We met a worker from Faroun who was allowed through while his brother was denied. He was told that the brother, also from Faroun, must go to Jubara and get a written confirmation from the village headman that his father’s lands are in Jubara. But, the known catch – he is not allowed into Jubara to get the confirmation… A number of children with large sacks containing laundry tubs, plastic bowls and cleaning rags for sale, have to empty the sacks for inspection.Anabta – 08:45 – 09:45On the way back from Beit Iba. Lines of cars in both directions; from the checking station the ends of the two lines are not visible – and there is little movement. We were already told at Beit Iba that passage at Anabta is very slow today. Sure enough, trucks, cars, buses with children on their annual outing, pedestrians – all standing in the heat. Three soldiers on the site are checking vehicles and IDs meticulously. There is almost no line in either direction. From the north, in other words from Jenin District and Tulkarm in the direction of Nablus crossing is prohibited for [males] ages 16-30. Entry is permissible for everyone except Israelis, but the soldiers do allow Israeli Arabs to cross on foot, and to leave their cars outside the checkpoint.. There are almost no checks at the entrance to Anabta. The soldiers are courteous. The taxi drivers are waiting for customers and wanting to talk politics.We continue to Beit Iba [see separate report under Nablus].Facing the entrance to Ramin we see fig trees cut down and slashed. We try to clarify what happened with the taxi drivers and their passengers. Their assumption is that settlers did it, but they have no proof. On the way back we found no one to ask. We phoned Tami Cohen, but there was no answer so we phoned the brigade’s situation room. A polite woman soldier said they would check. While we were standing there, the line at the entrance to Anabta seemed to shorten at a faster pace – some of the cars had turned around – but the line coming out was still very long. People on the spot angry and embittered.