'Anabta, Jubara (Kafriat), Mon 17.11.08, Morning

Translation: Galia S.

Anabta
09:45 – We are welcomed by a soldier who oversees the passage of cars that enter Tulkarm. The checkpoint commander, however, immediately approaches us and demands that we stand further away so as not to disturb him and also for our own safety. We explain that if we stand too far, we would be unable to do our job and add that we always stand in this place. Finally he relents…

The soldiers here are new reservists whom we will meet again during this shift.

No inspections. Cars stop and the soldiers take a look inside, exchange a word with the driver and they continue… Palestinian cars slow down a little and pass without stopping.

Jubara (Figs Passage)
10:35 – The new reservists haven't heard about us and, therefore, their first response to our request to open the gate is negative. However, when we ask them to make inquiries, it turns out that Grisha, the head of the DCO [District Coordination Office of the IDF Civil Administration that handles passage permits], is here. He immediately gives a clear instruction, in our presence, to the soldiers and their commanders to let MachsomWatch women pass, telling them it is an instruction of the brigade commander and that we have permission to go through the village to Ar-Ras checkpoint.

This instruction hasn't reached the Schoolchildren's Gate but soon the matter is clarified. (The head of the DCO sends regards to Micki and Tami).

At Ar-Ras checkpoint there are older reservists who talk to us with interest. We understand that within a short time Ar-Ras checkpoint and the Schoolchildren's Gate will be removed and the entrance to Jubara and the passage to Tulkarm will undergo changes.

We should follow the changes and see to it that we get permission to enter Jubara.