Beit Furik, Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), יום ג' 12.8.08, בוקר

Translation:  Suzanne O.

Tapuach Junction

8:20 a.m. 

We had been asked to give some documents to a Palestinian, so we waited for him.

There are few cars at the junction.  In the car park are two vehicles which are being inspected, a car and a lorry.  The passengers had been taken off and were waiting at the side.  A dog handler inspects the car and it takes about 15 minutes.  The dog was in the car for most of the time, moving back and forth over the seats.

Beit Furiq

8:50 a.m. 

It is very quiet.  There are almost no people crossing.

Huwwara

9:10 a.m. 

Most of the time there are about 30 people in the queue.  At first two checkpoints and a humanitarian lane are open.  Later another position is opened.  The waiting time is not long.  The x-ray machine is not present.

For some reason the soldiers are relaxed and light-hearted.

The roadblock commander, A., the military police commander and two polite and agreeable DCO officers are present.  They are interested in our activities and us.  They talk about the routine of the shifts at the roadblock.  The commander talks of the need to prevent crowding at the roadblock as this creates unnecessary tension.