Beit Iba, Mon 7.7.08, Afternoon
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Observers:
Elisheva A., Ziona S., Yonah A. (reporting) Translation: Judith G.
Jul-7-2008
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Afternoon
Beit Iba.
15:00 There are few cars at the entrance to Nablus and less at the exit.
15:00 There are few cars at the entrance to Nablus and less at the exit.
15:20
A bus on the way to Nablus stops before the checkpoint and the passengers get off. About 20 people walk to the pedestrian checkpoint. The bus moves forward toward the checkpoint. The soldiers get on to inspect the passengers who remained, mainly women. Three additional men are asked to get off and go through the pedestrian checkpoint. The inspection of the bus is completed and it moves forward a bit and waits for the passengers at the side of the road. The pedestrian inspection is done quickly. Every document is checked against a list of numbers hanging on the wall in front of the soldier. 15:30 A minibus-taxi stops at the checkpoint. Seven passengers are asked to get out of the taxi, their documents are gathered and, within a short time, returned without being checked, and the taxi goes off. A private car is inspected at the checkpoint. Two of its passengers are sent to go through the pedestrian checkpoint. The car continues on its way to Nablus. The porters are carrying merchandise from Nablus and wave at the soldiers. The soldiers return the greeting. At the pedestrian checkpoint, the usual inspection procedure is done quietly and quickly in both directions. The young men leaving Nablus continue to pass through the turnstiles, taking off belts and emptying their pockets. Women, children, men over 45, people in certain jobs, like doctors and lawyers, pass through in the fast lane and are checked by the soldier in the booth. All the pedestrians who enter Nablus are inspected. A few meters before the booth they are stopped and wait patiently, one by one, for the waving of the soldier's hand, inviting them to come closer and pass over their documents. We were able to stand wherever we wanted during our whole shift at the checkpoint, without any comments from the soldiers. 16:00 The area of the pink house, called Shvut Ami, is empty. There remains only a sign in Hebrew south of the house on the top of the hill.