'Anabta, 'Azzun 'Atma, Azzun, Qalqiliya, Mon 28.7.08, Morning
Eliyahu Passage
06:35 – Few cars at the entrance to Israel.
In spite of the quick passage of each Palestinian, there are still many workers waiting in the shade of the trees.
Qalqiliya
06:40 – There are a lot of cars with Israeli licence plates in the parking lot. In both directions the passage is free. The soldiers peek at the cars and their drivers and wave them on.
Azzun
06:50 – The entrance is open and we go on to Azzun Atme.
Azzun Atme
07:10 – The soldiers (including Ben) don't communicate with us and don't say anything about our position.
There are about 20 people at the pedestrians' entrance. It takes them about 20 minutes to pass. People are entering without interruption and cars pass quickly as well. Two Palestinians who come from the village are checked most thoroughly. They are told to take all their belongings out of their bags and the pockets (on the ground, of course), their documents are checked and they are asked some questions (we haven't heard what). Ten minutes later they are released.
About 10 army vehicles of all kinds arrive – among them jeeps and a military ambulance. They are parked at the checkpoint and their passengers get a briefing. It must be said, that all that time the quick passage at the checkpoint has continued.
07:40 – The vehicles convoy has departed for the patrol road and we have also left to go on our way.
A military vehicle is parked in the "settlement" [an unauthorized outpost] Shvut Ami. In the olive grove on the hills across from the settlement, the settlers' tent camp is expanding without interruption!
Jit junction is free.
Anabta
10:15 – No checks and no lines. The taxi drivers say that there is no way to make a living, either. But there are a lot of figs and cactus fruit.
10:45 – Many Palestinians who look like an expanded family are waiting on the road at the foot of the houses of the village (Suhfa ?), close to the Figs Passage. At the Figs Passage, a soldier who sees us coming closer is waiting for us with the key for the gate, but since we have seen from the road that there is no line at Ar-Ras and, being in a hurry, we have left to go home.