Huwwara, Za'tara (Tapuah), Tue 21.4.09, Morning

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Observers: 
Ninet B., Dina A. (reporting)
Apr-21-2009
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Morning

 Chana S. translating

A normal occupation day.  Relatively light pedestrian traffic exiting Nablus.  Apparently it is now spring festival for two weeks and schools are on holiday.


Huwwara
About 17 people wait in line for document checking , which is rapidly done.

Two checking positions are open.

Many people, largely students, are entering Nablus.

An old woman supported by her son and hardly able to walk, cannot pass through the carousel.  We asked the commander to open the gate, he sent S.  A DCO representative came immediately but he did not have a key!  After waiting a few minutes the key arrives and the woman passes through.

From where we stand we cannot hear what is happening.  Today for a change there are no detaineesinfo-icon so it was not so terrible.

Suddenly a gun is drawn, there are shouts directed at the drivers waiting for passengers from Nablus.  One of the drivers is pulled out and taken to the hut but is released within minutes.  From then on the drivers do not approach the carousels and one of them takes on the job of ‘organiser.'

The parking lot was empty early on but by 9.30, when we left, it was full.

At the vehicles checkpoint there was a line of some 20 cars. A bus, tenth in line, took 25 minutes to pass.

Two checking positions for cars.

Entering Nablus, the traffic flowed but owners of Israeli licences are not allowed to pass.  A tender arrives with Israeli licence, driver and 3 women.  According to them they thought there was no problem about visiting Nablus and came for a visit.  Soldiers explain that entry is permitted only on Shabbat.

We returned to the pedestrian checkpoint - no changes there.

In the parking lot, kiosks were flourishing, among all the surrounding dirt.

We left for personal reasons.

Za'tara/Tapuah junction.
When we arrived about 20 cars were waiting. On our return it was empty in both directions.