Shavei Shomron, Beit Iba Sunday 25.06.06 PM Observers: Aliya S., Susan L. (reporting)Guests: Anke M., Katja M.SummaryMt. Sinai and the checkpoints in the Occupied Territories don’t seemto have much in common. But the issue of “limits” came up at Mt.Sinai for Moses, and is much in evidence today at the checkpoints andtheir surrounds. What limits or boundaries are set to oppress andhumiliate the “other?” And if the dignity of the “other” is notrespected, how can the integrity of the occupier be maintained?Lastly, are the checkpoints and the surrounding areas really a placeto test the young soldiers’ personal limits? The whole question ofmoral and ethical boundaries is a deeply troubling one.13:25 — En route to Beit Iba.The Qalqiliya crossing is a marvel to behold: the speed with whichconstruction takes place in the Occupied Territories, as opposed toelsewhere in Israel proper, is astounding. A huge metalsuperstructure now bestrides the new “border;” there are blue policevehicles and checks made on each vehicle entering the Territories. Norolling checkpoints at all, and Jit, with its brightly painted orangeboulders with their metal “sun” shades is completely deserted. Thetemporary roadway, improvised by Palestinian vehicles after thejunction of route 60 and 55, has been blocked with large masses ofconcrete. Nothing wends its way up the hill. No work that we can seeis being done on the army’s new “security” road below Shavei Shomron.14:00 Shavei ShomronWhere the new wall ends, a new ditch has been dug, a deep trenchwhich seems to indicate that the wall will be continued there atright angles to the present structure.At the top of the hill, we’re greeted by the removal of the concreteboulders across the road, and the concrete checkpost that had stoodthere for months has also gone – pushed off to the side, togetherwith the razor wire which still lies there since being placed outsidethe settlement last August during the “disengagement.”The soldier in the lookout tower greets us, “You can’t stand there[in the shadow of the wall], this is a military installation.” Wemove half a meter back, and continue to stand.14:15 — just as we are about to leave, we see the two minibuses ofthe archaeological workers (minus the wheelbarrows on their roofs)wend their way to a standstill. A lone soldier comes to the buses,warning us that if we stand where we are, they won’t move, they willnot let the two vehicles pass the plastic boulders that decorate thecheckpoint, on the far, Sebastia side – home to many of the workers.At first we take no notice, then realize that they are serious,confirm this with the Palestinians, who, as is their wont, bear allthis stoically, and take our leave – hoping that the stiff neckedsoldiers keep their word and have them return home without more ado.Deir SharafA worrying tale of more soldier miscreance from Jamal, at the minimarket: two days ago, a Hummer load of soldiers asked for Cola, gotwhat they wanted, and refused to pay 5 NIS. Jamal clung, not only tohis principles, but also to the military vehicle, as it drove off,the soldiers laughing. He was hurt, insisted on payment from them,and it was finally thrown at him, but not before he was warned thatthey would be back, and that he would ultimately pay for this.14:50 -15:50 Beit IbaThere are a lot of taxis, many taxi drivers telling us of horrors, interms of waiting times, at both Huwwara and at Enav (which is whatthey call Anabta), so we stay less time than usual at Beit Iba..There is no vehicle line at all into Nablus, but thorough checking bythe soldiers when minibuses, laden with young men, usually students,pass. As we arrive, six are taken off a minibus, their IDs handedback to them, and they are told to walk back, to the end of thepedestrian line coming from Nablus, to go through the checkpointproper. We see other cars not being allowed out of Nablus, turningaround and returning, even when the quarry guard (known to all of us)runs interference on their behalf.15:10 — a pediatrician, on his way back to his home in Nablus, froma day working at the Tulkarm hospital, is told he can’t enter Nablus.There’s a stand off with the soldiers at the vehicle checking area;we call the army’s Humanitarian Center, but meanwhile, O., thereasonable problem-solving commander arrives, takes the doctor to theside, talks a couple of minutes with him, and next we see the latter,waving from his car, on his way home. The soldiers at the checkpostare working efficiently today, are reasonable in their deportment(influence of a reasonable commander?), and deal quickly withpassing pedestrians, of which there is a steady stream. Checking ofbags is sporadic, and there’s nothing untoward at all with what’sgoing on, besides unbearable summer heat and the unbearableoppression of the Occupation.