Jubara

Circumstances: 24 hours after the
suicidal bus bomb in Jerusalem in which 7 passengers on their way
to work were killed and some 20 injured. As a result a strict
curfew was put in force all over the West Bank. As soon as we
arrived and parked our cars a civil police car followed us and a
policeman asked for our driving licenses, which they recorded and
politely inquired about our activity. We handed them a leaflet
about the Machsomwatch group. When we arrived there was more army
activity around. The soldiers at the checkpoint were friendly
reserve soldiers. Nobody was trying to pass. On the other side were
about six Palestinian men and eight women. The men had permits to
work in Israel but because of the strict curfew were not allowed to
cross. We were joined by come other women and taxi drivers, and had
a friendly conversation with them. All expressed the wish for a
solution, which unfortunately none of us saw in the near future.
Three soldiers came running from the Tulkarm direction, and took up
positions in this area. An ambulance from the Tulkarm direction was
held up. The driver showed his papers while three soldiers
surrounded the ambulance, ordering that it be opened. A man was
lying in the ambulance, surrounded by two women, a child, and
another man. The soldiers checked carefully and politely, and let
the ambulance through, wishing the people well. 4 women told us
that during the night the army had been active inside Tulkarm,
waking them up in the middle of the night and turning their homes
upside down. One of the women provides for a family of 15, and
during the last month managed to work about 10 days. This morning
she left home at 2.30 AM but couldn't get through the checkpoint.
There are more army jeeps around and more Palestinians on their
side of the checkpoint. When we ask them if they haven't heard
about the curfew, they say that they thought that with their
permits they would be able to get through. A 72-year old man, who
every morning cycles 30 km to a village on the Israeli side where
he takes care of cultivation of an orange orchard, was not let
through this morning. The Palestinians showed us where in the
nearby village Faroun the new fence cuts through the village, and
cutting them off from their fields. We walked over to the big
lorries at the unloading area. We learned that this place serves
two purposes. Exchange of goods, and as a central working place for
the lorries that are engaged in the work on the fence. The old
deaf-mute man (see previous report) from the West Bank came again
with bags of vine leaves trying desperately to cross. We tell the
soldiers that the mayor of Taibe has delegated to this man a
special location in the Taibe market to sell his goods, and that he
provides for 12 small children. The soldiers know him, but he is
still not let through. A young well-dressed couple came with a
little 2-3 years old boy in the father's arms to the gate. They
explained that the boy needs an eye operation in Israel. They were
let through. Three young boys with plastic bags tried to get
through and were waved off to return. Four other boys were caught
trying to bypass the checkpoint via the olive trees and were sent
back. A young woman who tried to bypass the checkpoint was caught
at 7.30 AM and her ID was confiscated by the army patrol. She will
have to wait till 11 AM for her ID.