Beit Furik, Huwwara, Sha`ar Shomron (Qasem), Za'tara (Tapuah), Wed 17.9.08, Afternoon
Natanya translating.
14.20 Sha'ar Shomron, about 6 cars in the direction of Israel.
14.30 Marda is open. Zeita is closed and it seems that more piles of building materials have been added.
14.40 Za'tra (Tapuach).
No cars waiting at the entrance from the direction of Israel.
Few cars from Nablus and they pass fairly quickly.
14.50 Huwwara CP.
The pipe from the boiler at the entrance to the checkpoint is leaking but less than two weeks ago. There are no detainees
and no one arrested in the checking booth. 3 cars waiting at the entrance, one in the lane and one at the exit. About 100 pedestrians waiting to be checked and filling the shed to the utmost. 3 checking posts are working at a good reasonable rate. The atmosphere is calm. The commander is apathetic with his back to us. In opposition to last time we were here no one shouts at the men who stop in the shed to put their belts on or to chat or wait for a friend.
15.30 The waiting period in the shed which we checked according to the number of the people was about 12-15 minutes. Many women, children and the elderly pass in the humanitarian lines.
5 cars at the entrance to Nablus and pass after their IDs have been checked one by one. Few leaving Nablue. A man coming through says that in the women's line is a student who does not speak Hebrew and she is not allowed to pass. I went pass the blue line up to the checking post and did not see anyone answering to the description either waiting or arguing with the soldiers. One of the soldiers said that everyone was allowed to pass. A car tried to enter Nablus and comes with the DCO representative but is not allowed to pass and turns round and goes back.
15.50 Beit Furik CP.
Few people or cars. 2 cars at the entrance. At the exit now and again a car is checked and goes through without delay. About 6 people in the shed and come out one by one. Now and again someone comes to the entrance and goes though after being checked.
16.30 Back to Huwwara CP.
Many people entering Nablus. A large group of people also leaving but most of those go through the humanitarian line and so as far as we can see there are only 60-70 men in the lines to be checked. 5 cars wait to enter Nablus.
16.45 No cars in either direction. The pedestrians, most of them students, go through with no problems or delays.
17.10 We leave.
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