Beit Iba, Shave Shomron, Sun 18.1.09, Afternoon

Place:

Beit Iba

Shave Shomron

Observers:

Aliyah S., Alix W. (reporting), Guest: Monika, Translator: Charles K.

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Jan-18-2009

Afternoon

Shavei Shomron

15:00 Traffic flows through the checkpoint easily; the soldier at the
checkpoint doesn't stop anyone, except us, asking us where we want to
go.
Beit Iba

15:30 There are more people and vehicles today than we have seen in
several weeks. According to the commander there are less people
coming through Beit Iba regularly since the army opened the Ganot
Gate at Shavei Shomron.
There is only one turnstile open and the humanitarian line. The
women's bags and shopping bags are being opened and checked, there is
a queue, but it is moving. There are approximately 20-25 men in the
line all the time, being checked in the usual manner.

There are no vehicles entering Nablus, and the ones exiting are being
checked quickly and pass.

Location Description

Shave Shomron

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The checkpoint is on Route 60 (the main road to the northern West Bank), opposite settlement. Has been blocked to Palestinians since disengagement from Gaza and northern Samaria.

Beit Iba

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A perimeter checkpoint west of the city of Nablus. Operated from 2001 to 2009 as one of the four permanent checkpoints info-icon closing on Nablus: Beit Furik and Awarta to the east and Hawara to the south. A pedestrian-only checkpoint, where MachsomWatch volunteers were present daily for several hours in the morning and afternoon to document the thousands of Palestinians waiting for hours in long queues with no shelter in the heat or rain, to leave the district city for anywhere else in the West Bank.
From March 2009, as part of the easing of the Palestinian movement in the West Bank, it was abolished, without a trace, and without any adverse change in the security situation.