'Anabta, 'Azzun, Ar-Ras, Jubara (Kafriat), Qalqiliya, Mon 12.1.09, Morning

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Observers: 
Osnat R., Roni Sh.
Jan-12-2009
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Morning
Translator: Orna B.

06:55 Elija Gate
There is no queue of workmen, possibly because of the relatively late hour. They go through the new magnometer very fast and mount vehicles awaiting them at the parking lot.

The vehicles' queue is not long either.

07:00 Qalqiliya

No queue at all. Only cars with Israeli number plates are checked against a list.

Pedestrians are sent to walk through the car park.

07:20 Azzun
The entrance to Azzun is open. We got the impression that there were very few vehicles on the roads but at the Funduk all the shops are open. Children are on the way to school and everything seems normal.

09:40 Anabta

Cars are waiting at the entrance. The entrance lane is closed with concrete blocks so that the cars have to alternate going through from either direction.

A soldier approaches and tells us politely "for our own good" to beware of passing cars. When we ask why they closed one lane we are told shamelessly that i't is "for the soldiers' convenience" to be manning only one checkpost.
It is true that traffic is not heavy and that they wait only 2-3 minutes each time, but it does not occur to the generally polite reserve soldiers that the inspections are unnecessary and that it might be possible to go through with no queues at all.

10:00 Jubara, (Figs Passage)

Cars are waiting at the entrance; documents are inspected, and a commercial vehicle is inspected more thoroughly by the side of the checkpoint. Settlers fly through. We go through the settlers' entrance and ask a soldier to open the gate to the village for us. The soldier asks who we are and opens the gate.

Gate 753  - the soldiers waive us through.

10:15 A-ras

A few bored reserve soldiers, (more numerous than usual) are happy to see us, willing to start a political debate. We are not...
Everyone congregates by the tower but there is a commander who issues instrcutions from time to time.
A pickup truck arrives from the direction of Tulkarm, its covered number plate arouses the commander's suspicions. The vehicle is inspected, as well as the driver and his ID number is sent to the computer for a checkup.

The checkpoint commander asks us who is responsible for repairing the road, and when we answer that in our opinion the army is responsible for it because it is within the checkpoint area, they all laugh. Even Osnat's argument that an occupying army is reponsible for the welfare of the occupied does not appeal to their amused viewpoint.

10:40
  We leave.