Nablus

Beit Furiq and Huwarra Checkpoints:

Watchers: N.L., H.B., and M. M. plus three new Watchers: Daphna,
Orit, and Yael

Weather conditions: cold and rainy.

At 07:45 we passed the intersection for Ma’ale Levona where a
flying checkpoint was put up. Two large buses had been stopped and
the passengers were waiting outside (in the rain) to be checked.

Beit Furik: When we arrived there were many soldiers and no line.
The checkpoint was completely empty. The soldiers explained that
earlier there had been many people (a couple hundred) but they had
gone through already. There was a closure (keter) in Nablus and
therefore fewer people. But the surrounding villages were not under
the keter. Also since the rain was heavy the local population might
have a difficult time with the roads (unlike the paved settler
roads).

We didn’t stay at Beit Furik for long. There was nothing to
do.

Huwarra: The usual chaos and horror of Huwarra was turned up a
degree. Many soldiers present, all with weapons drawn at the crowd.
Large mass of men corralled between the fence and the barbed wire,
women were allowed to pass along the side (in the mud without the
protection of the overhead covering). The soldiers explained the
extreme tension in that just before we arrived two “wanted” men
were caught at the northern side and they were anticipating others
to arrive.

It is important to note that uncertain authority, general
disorganization, uncoordinated decision-making, large number of
soldiers and a heightened security alert combined to create a
dangerous environment.

Ordinary people waiting in line for permission for their lives were
ignored.

There was no one senior enough present to handle the tension and
the atmosphere was chaotic and terrifying. The highest commander
present (Guy) when we arrived was very young and edgy. He was
extremely hostile, at one point he screamed in the face of a man,
who was old enough to be his father: “You disgust me!” This man was
just trying to go to Nablus. Guy then went on to explain that the
freedom of movement for Palestinians is illegitimate. Enough said.

Throughout the morning different soldiers/commanders began to
appear. A representative (Itai) from the DCO (District Coordination
Office) arrived and began to make order. He helped for the duration
of the time that he was there but he didn’t stay long.

Another more senior officer arrived and was extremely hostile and
abusive to the soldiers, us, and totally ignored the people in line
(the invisibility factor). His comment to the soldiers “You don’t
know how to act at a checkpoint!” He escalated the drama to a
terrifying level. He, at least, did not stay long and the
atmosphere went back to only intolerable after he left.

Men allowed to pass from the southern side to the northern side
were RECHECKED at the northern checkpoint and were often denied
passage at that point. This means that men who had tolerated hours
of waiting in the insufferable conditions were denied passage after
they had already been approved.

At the northern end there were approximately thirty men detained
while their IDs were being checked.

Most of our efforts to assist were useless especially as time went
on. The rain, cold, and high level of tension drained the
compassion from the soldiers. A pregnant woman was denied passage
and when Hanna attempted to negotiate on her behalf Guy told her:
“You’re (plural) shittier than the Palestinians!”

There were two older, sick men waiting in line for a long time
without receiving attention. A request was made to one of the more
flexible soldiers (Itai) if they could be moved to the front of the
line. He suggested that they go in an ambulance that had not yet
been checked and then they could pass through the vehicle line.
That being done, the men were relieved briefly only to be taken
back out of the ambulance and denied passage by other soldiers.
Itai promised that he would take care of it.

A car of three 90-year-old people (not exaggerating) was checked AT
GUN POINT. When asked if this was really necessary, the soldier
replied that it is for his own safety. At least they were allowed
to pass.

As you know, the stories go on.

Hanna called the “Moked” (The Centre for the Defense of the
Individual) to inform them on the general situation. They were
already aware and had placed a call to the DCO asking for
intervention.

Tapuach Junction checkpoint: nearly empty.

Five minutes past Tapuach there was another flying checkpoint
stopping people.

In Assaweeya there were four soldiers on foot marching through the
street. It was an alarming sight.

MLM