'Anabta, Qalqiliya, Mon 15.12.08, Afternoon

Qalqiliya 

13:45 – A lively traffic of cars both
at the entrance and at the exit. Two reservists who are standing at
the checkpoint checking the people who enter Qalqiliya give us a welcoming
wave. Two other soldiers are standing at the checkpoint farther inside
checking those who leave Qalqiliya. The check of the cars is brief.
Neither at the entrance nor at the exit are there lines. Pedestrians
who wish to enter the city are sent to use the way through the open
field. 

Anabta 

15:45 – A lot of cars with Israeli
licence plates are parked at the taxis' parking place. More cars with
yellow licence plates that approach the checkpoint and try to pass are
asked to turn back. At the southern checkpoint two soldiers let the
entering cars pass quickly. When we ask for explanation, they only say,
"Yellows don't enter". We assume that barring cars with Israeli
plates from entering Tulkarm has to do with the release of Palestinian
prisoners. Two Palestinian cars flying (Palestinian) flags that got
to the checkpoint and pass without problems provide us with the clue. 

Documents of pedestrians who pass the
checkpoint are checked. Two young men, one is on his way to Tulkarm
and the other leaves the city, are waiting for their papers. After a
few minutes they get them and continue on their way. 

16:15 – On the way from Anabta to the
Figs Gate we see that the lower road which leads from Tulkarm to Qalqiliya
via Ar-Ras checkpoint is empty and we decide not to enter Jubara.