Beit Iba, Wed 14.1.09, Afternoon

 15:25  Beit Iba checkpoint.

No cars on line entering Nablus.

Three lanes leaving the city - two for people leaving, one for those entering.

The pedestrian shed is empty.  The humanitarian lane is empty.  From time to time someone arrives, is inspected and immediately continues.

M., the commander, behaves appropriately.  A'aoni, the DCO representative, is here, stands pointing his rifle, we don't know why.

The commander orders a female soldier who's shouting to "stop."

15:50  N., the commander, arrives, and the atmosphere changes.  A Palestinian yells back at a female soldier who yelled at him.  The commander tell A'aoni to explain to the Palestinian that he's not allowed to yell at the soldiers. Later, Tami told the commander that the soldier yelled first.  The commander told Tami to just watch and shut up! 
Otherwise, he behaves appropriately.  It helps that there are almost no Palestinians going through...

For a number of weeks we've noticed that very few people have been going through the checkpoint.  One reason is because students are on vacation.  But that can't be the entire explanation.

16:05  Since the checkpoint is empty, we leave.