Awarta, Beit Furik, Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), יום ה' 16.10.08, בוקר
Translation: Suzanne O.
7:50 a.m.
The entrance to Marda is open; to Zeita it's barred.
Tapuach
7:55 a.m.
There is no vehicle queue; two buses stand at the side being inspected. The soldiers had prolonged conversations with us, one was hostile and others more open to hearing what we said.
Huwwara
8:35 a.m.
We arrived relatively late and the car park is chock a block. There are about 20 people in the queue at the pedestrian crossing. The building of the new roadblock is progressing, none of the soldiers is able to tell us what it is going to be, they are leaving shortly so it also is of no interest to them. There are rumours that it will be the same type of vehicle crossing as at Tapuach.
Awarta
9:05 a.m.
Everything is as normal. There are two vehicles at the exit from Nablus. We glanced in for a moment and drove on.
Beit Furiq
9:10 a.m.
The soldiers shout at us mockingly when we approach and it appears that the roadblock commander attempts to quieten them down. A Palestinian vehicle is parked at the side without a driver, we were told that the gear had broken down and the driver had gone to bring a towing truck. A soldier demands that we move back even though we stand quietly and do not interfere at all.
There is a dog handler inspecting the vehicles leaving. Only one lane is open and the dog handler's inspection causes the pace to slow down and a queue to build up in both directions.
9:30 a.m.
An additional lane is opened and the queue shortens immediately. The dog handler inspects only some of the vehicles.
The coffee stall owner on the side of the road tells us that two days ago his stall was burnt down. When he arrived in the morning he found it burnt. The soldiers at the roadblock said that they saw the fire break out at 1:00 a.m. It really is a shame. He is now building it again, with the help of friends.
10:00 a.m.
The shift ends and we return home.