'Anabta, 'Azzun, Eliyahu Crossing, Qalqiliya, Mon 13.4.09, Morning

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Observers: 
Nina S. Ronnie S. Natanya translating.
Apr-13-2009
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Morning

6.30
Eliyahu crossing. Workers cross over in spite of the closureinfo-icon. It seems
that Alfei Menashe enjoys two worlds, they are so to speak in Israel
and at the same time get the cheap workers even when there is a
closure. No long lines of people or cars.

6.35
Qalqiliya.  Few cars at the exit or entrance. Random checkinginfo-icon. A
private car arrives and the driver signals that he wants to pass
quickly because there is a woman who is on her way to give birth in the
car but the soldier signals him to stop. The driver is asked to get out
of the car, to open the back door so that the soldiers can see the
woman, to open the baggage compartment and is then allowed to go on.
The soldiers stand with their hands in their pockets, showing their
contempt and checking the cars slowly. Israeli cars are checked against
a list and it is only because there is not much traffic that a line
does not ensue.

6.45 We leave. Taxis and cars travel through Izbet Tabib on the road parallel to road 55 and go up to the road near the garage.

6.55
The main entrance to Azzun is completely blocked. Mounds along the road
and also a new fence is being built from Azzun along the road. We wonder
how the Palestinians will get to work on their lands.

7.50
Anabta.  The wide spread work on the road and the contempt of the
soldiers delays the traffic for no reason. There is not thought given
and no care and this causes long lines in both directions of which we
cannot see the end and cannot count how many cars there are. From time
to time one route closes because of the bulldozer but also after the
route opens the soldiers continue to only let cars  in turn through one
route until the road workers call their attention to this.  From time
to time a bus is delayed at the exit of Anabta. All the passengers get
down to be checked and meantime all movement stops. An ambulance with
lights blinking arrives. The driver is told to open the back doors so
that the soldiers can see that there is truly someone sick inside. We
counted the time for 17 cars as being half an hour and the drivers said
they had been an hour in line. A phone call to the centre did not help.

We want to commend the building workers (soldiers and civilians) who tried to delay those passing as little as possible.

9.20 We left very frustrated.