'Awarta, Beit Furik, Huwwara, Sun 30.11.08, Morning
Translation: Hanna K.
07:40 Za'tara: 4 cars from the west, 4 from the north.
07:45 Beita:
A few kilometer before the village we find ourselves in a traffic jam. When we arrive at the village junction it turned out that some short time before there was a serious fatal traffic accident. Before us there was a gathering of many people a truck upside down on the road, with its cargo, consumer goods, strewn all around. Later we learned that the truck hit the car which left the village, a young man of 28 was killed and two other passengers were mortally wounded.
08:25 Beit Furik:
There are no cars in the direction of Nablus. The owner of the coffee stall points out that the condition improved, the passage of the vehicles is quick and some are not checked. He tells us that they intend building a bridge on the spot, work will begin in the coming days. He doesn't know where exactly the bridge will be built and whether it is intended to facilitate the passage of the Palestinians. He heard that when it will be built - the Palestinians will be able to pass to Nablus without being checked, but is not at all convinced that this will indeed happen (neither are we).
While we were at the CP 3-6 cars arrived and a few pedestrians. The CP commander took care to remind us where our place was (the impassable white line).
08:50 Awarta:
Groundwork near the CP. A driver connected with the works tells us that a water line for the village is being built.
There are 3 trucks in the queue at the exit of the village.
09:05 Huwwara:
2 checking stations, a humanitarian queue, a X-Ray truck on the spot, about 20 people at the turnstiles. A lively pedestrian traffic to Nablus, a short delay near the turnstile.
09:20
A young man who waits for a relative at the CP talks about the difficulties of their life. He is a father to six children. Works on a transit car that doesn't belong to him, earns 50 IS per day, finds it difficult to proves for his family. He wants to emigrate to China. The cousin of the man killed in the accident comes up to us. He complains that there are no traffic lights at the exit from Beita, which causes many accidents. He wants to enter Nablus with his car but has no permit and it not allowed to do so. He talked to one of the soldiers and was turned down . He doesn't wait for us to try and find out whether there is a possibility to help him, tell us that he'll find a way to somehow enter the town and goes on his way.
09:40
A Palestinian from the village of Madma, is on his way to an eye surgery in Nablus. He forgot his ID card at home, and a soldier at the CP told him that he is allowed to enter Nablus, but that he wouldn't be able to return from there. We turn to B., the military police commander, he shows understanding and readiness to help the man. The DCO representative joins him, and they promise the Palestinian that they would enable him to leave Nablus, and also give him, at our request, their telephone number in case he'll meet with difficulties upon leaving Nablus.
10:00
We leave the CP.
On our way back we take with us the father of the child who was seriously wounded at the traffic accident at Huwwara. We bring him to an institution in Israel where he is admitted. He too, like the uncle of the young man who was killed at the traffic accidents, protest that there are no traffic lights at the exit from Beita, which causes a serious traffic accident once a month. According to him the army objects to the putting up traffic lights at the Palestinian villages. We shall try to clarify the matter.