Beit Iba, Shave Shomron, Mon 11.8.08, Afternoon

 Beit Iba.15:20  Before Deir Sharaf we turn onto the road leading to the Shavei Shomron checkpoint.  Palestinian vehicles are driving on the road in both directions, and it is open.  We recall the many times Palestinians asked us to find out whether it's possible to open the road.  Now we hope it stays open.  Later, talking to taxi drives in Beit Iba they tell us that the road near Shavei Shomron is open from 06:00 to 18:00.   

15:30  One of the porters from Beit Iba greets us while we're still in the parking lot and tells us that today they're allowed to bring merchandise through.Few cars go through the vehicle checkpoint in either directions, and few pedestrians pass through the pedestrian checkpoint.  The DCO representative says it's been that way all day.A soldier checks the documents of everyone entering Nablus.  Two soldiers, one at each lane of the vehicle checkpoint, check the documents of all the drivers.

16:05  A bus to Nablus, full of women and children, stops at the checkpoint.  The soldier asks the driver to get off, and gets on the bus.  Inspects it quickly and lets the driver continue on his way. 

16:15  A young man tries to go through the pedestrian express lane.  The soldier stops him, and sends him to go through the turnstile.  The youth complains of shortness of breath and asks to be allowed to pass, but the soldier refuses.  The DCO explains, "He's complaining about shortness of breath – let him bring documentation."