Beit Iba, 24.5.2006, Wednesday, PMObservers: Debra L. Raya I. (reporting)Natanya translating. 14.50 As soon as we alighted from the car we heard excited reports from the radio at the kiosk …to which we were not accustomed. People told us that there had been an attack in Ramallah. We notice that they use the Israeli terminology. Later we were told that 4 were killed and all this from Palestinian sources. We heard about this on Israel radio only at 19.00, 4 hours later. Probably because of the complications the army got into. 15.00 We met 2 Palestinians at the checkpoint who said that they are footballers who had to get to Tel Aviv. Evidently to a game which had been organized by the Peres Institute and they said that “To the world we are footballers and here we are in the lowest state imaginable.” 4 soldiers checked cars, 13 cars from Nablus and 3 entering and it takes about half an hour. There is little traffic. Bags are checked very carefully even the linings. 15.08 Until 15.20 cars from Nablus are not checked and there is a line of about 20 but when the checking starts again it is efficient and the line empties within 9 minutes. Debra gives her phone number to one of the passers by and he phones at about 16.00 and says that at Jit there are more than 20 cars and that it had taken an hour and a half to pass. Just remember that this is after he already had been checked at Beit Iba where he had met Debra. The commander I., says that those between the ages of 15-30 and living in Nablus are not allowed to exit. Anyone can go in also from Jenin and Tulkarm (this is strange because at Anabta car drivers from Nablus told us that they are not allowed to go from there to Nablus). 15.37 No cars in the direction of Nablus. 15.40 Battalion commander Charuv Arik and orders the humanitarian line closed. The DCO representatives are angry and say that only they and not he can make such a decision but they do not dare to go against him. The situation becomes critical. He claims that such lines are only for ambulances and though Debra tries to speak to him is does not help. He says this is an order and he will send personnel to help. We ask for his phone numbers which he gives us but when the pressure at the checkpoint becomes too heavy he does not reply and we only get the answering service. 24 hours later I am still waiting for a reply from him. 15.55 Because of the report about Jit we phoned the humanitarian centre but get no reply. 16.05 Two owners of trucks with gas balloons arrive. There has been no supply of gas to Jit for a few days already and the permit of one of them expired the previous day. We speak to Major Darsh of the DCO and ask him to help saying that having the truck stand with gas balloons under the blazing sun ( over 30 degrees) endangers everyone at the checkpoint. He being conscious of the situation speaks to the commander and 20 minutes later they are allowed to pass. 16.15 The soldiers at the checkpoint and the DCO are not happy at this order…to put it mildly. There are 150 – 200 people in the line. The older people and the women who are used to the humanitarian line turn to him but are sent back to the turnstiles and so instead of helping the solitary soldier who is checking he becomes a traffic light and the situation gets worse and worse. 16.30 The military police arrives. Sergeant Elad who listens to the complaints and says that the situation is the absolute opposite, that is that there is always a humanitarian line but not a humanitarian line for cars. He turns to the commander and says that he is first to ease the pressure and then bring about order, 16.47 A young man is stopped, blindfolded and handcuffed and when we ask why we are told that he is wanted by the secret police. 17.05 Another detainee. 17.40 The commander who was employed freeing the pressure now goes to the detainee and takes his ID and promises not to take long about it. 17.54 we leave and there is no checkpoint at Jit. 18.15 on road 55 to the west a taxi with 8 men and women has been detained, a random check and they are sent on their way in five mintues. 18.25 Pundak. 3 Hummers and many soldiers of rank and maybe reservists also …the reason stone throwing. Summary. A hard day even though the commander, the DCO and the soldiers tried to be efficient.