'Anabta, Ar-Ras, Jubara (Kafriat), Mon 16.6.08, Afternoon

Jubara, Ar-Ras

13:40 – In every checkpoint there are traces of the "Blue and White" women's visit [The Blue and White women are right wing women activists]. In Jubara there is an eye-catching sign on the fence saying, "Our thanks to MachsomWatch for supporting the resistance", signed, 'The terrorists' gangs.' Although pitting up this sign is against the law, we don't take it down, in order to avoid providing anyone with a pretext not to open the gate. At Bilha's and Elisheva's request, a soldier opens the gate for us even though he doesn't respond to our greetings. At the "Schoolchildren's Gate" the soldiers are more friendly in spite of the fact that an identical sign is hung over the post and small green flags embellished with words of gratitude to the soldiers decorate the post.

The decoration repeats itself also on the side of the post at Ar-Ras. This time we remark that there is no room for political propaganda on IDF posts. A soldier wearing a skull cap declares that he is interested in hanging up the sign. Nevertheless, he transfers it into the shed, where no one except for the soldiers can see it. The other soldiers, among whom there is a resident of the settlement Ofra, do not demonstrate the same hostility and even get into conversation with us. They are interested in knowing where we are from, etc.

Beside the above mentioned things, both at Jubara and at Ar-Ras the traffic is extremely thin. No detaining of vehicles and no detainees. Neither is there a woman dog trainer.

Anabta

14:05 – There are two soldiers in each post. There is scarcely any traffic at the checkpoint. Here, too, the sign of the Blue and White women is hung on the pillbox and their small flags decorate the post.

We continue to Beit Iba.