'Anabta, Ar-Ras, Qalqiliya, Te'enim Crossing, Tue 17.3.09, Afternoon
14:35 Te’enim Checkpoint:
We were stopped and asked for the driver’s I.D. card. We saw the A-Ras checkpoint completely empty further along the way.
14:45 – Anabta:
When
we arrived there were about 25 cars waiting in line in the direction of
Tulkarm and the line extended beyond the curve in the road in the
direction of Nablus with too many cars to count. A few minutes after we arrived the line broke up. Drivers’ I.D. cards were randomly checked. One
of the soldiers invited drivers going in the direction of Nablus to use
the road in the opposite direction in order to shorten the line there
as well.
When we asked one of the soldiers if this was a reserve unit he answered “I don’t talk with leftists.” It
became apparent that those dealing with building the checkpoint are
reservists, while the rest are soldiers in their active military
service.
15:15
Apparently “in honor of” the change in shifts and equipment, a military
vehicle (number 252146) was standing in the middle of the road leading
to Tulkarm and therefore preventing Palestinian cars from passing. The
car stood there for at least 15 minutes, the soldiers moving slowly
along, apparently forgetful of the fact that cars are stuck waiting to
get by. Meanwhile a lineup of dozens of cars formed. The
soldiers tried to make us move farther away from the place where we
were standing opposite those checking the people coming from Nablus,
but we didn’t agree to move.
16:30 Qalqilya Checkpoint:
Traffic is heavy in both directions and the line moves very slowly. A
couple of soldiers are randomly checking I.D. cards, and meanwhile
entertaining themselves and talking to each other amiably as if the
waiting cars were not there. Drivers who went through
entering Qalqilya were angry, some of them honked their horns loudly
and some said that they had waited for as long as a half hour. We could barely see the checks taking place coming out of Qalqilya.