'Anabta, Ar-Ras, Qalqiliya, יום ד' 7.5.08, בוקר

06:45 – On the occasion of Memorial Day, a "closure" has been imposed on the territories. [A closure is a blanket restriction of passage regardless of permits.] The workers cannot go out to work in the settlements.

Qalqiliya
06:50

The passage is quick without inspection of documents. There are no lines.

Funduq
07:10

The El Hajja blockade is partly open. The earth ramparts have been moved a little so as to let a narrow passage for a vehicle. We cannot see why, if a blockade is opened, it is not opened completely. Perhaps it is out of laziness or maybe in order to make it easier to erect it again.

Anabta
09:20

 At this hour the checkpoint is quiet and there are no lines. A shielded vehicle arrives and, sounding the horn wildly, makes the taxis move from the parking bay to the junction of road 57. "It's the read-head," say the taxi drivers, "he has been harassing us for a week". We ask the read-head sergeant first class what is the point of moving the taxis that were standing some 200 meters away from the checkpoint another 50 meters. We haven't been granted a proper answer. The new location is not very convenient for the taxis but it is particularly difficult at the hors of pressure when people get out of taxis and pass the checkpoint on foot. Then, the distance to the taxi station on the other side is significant especially for old and disabled people who from now on have to walk 250 meters. Anabta is, as we all know, the main checkpoint of Tulkarm, which means that the location change of the taxi station is going to affect about 150,000 people.

Ar-Ras
09:50
The traffic is thin. No lines. No delays in the inspections.