Beit Iba, Wed 7.1.09, Afternoon

 15:00  Beit Iba.  No cars on line to enter Nablus.  Every car arriving goes through without being checked.  Cars leaving Nablus are inspected quickly.

Two lanes for cars leaving Nablus, and one for those entering.

Residents of Kochin may enter Nablus by car without inspection, but only two taxis with special permission are allowed to leave Nablus for Kochin.

The pedestrian lane is almost empty.  The shed is empty.  People arrive one by one, are checked and go through.  The same is true in the humanitarian lane.

The soldiers are "unemployed."  They're glad to talk to us.  We remember A., the commander, from last time.  Polite to everyone, to us as well as to the Palestinians.  His views are very different from ours, but his attitude is considerate and humane.  He even allowed me to photograph (but not the soldiers).  And I took advantage of this rare opportunity.  We also met Salah, the DCO representative, who comes from Julis.  Another soldier, from Shoham, also came over - from a very liberal religious family.  We had an interesting, calm discussion

16:10  We left Beit Iba.