'Anabta, Jit, Jubara (Kafriat), Qalqiliya, Thu 17.1.08, Morning

7.00 Jubara

There is a line of
cars, in both directions, at the exit from the village to A-Ras and pedestrian
are waiting too. The soldiers just do not function. It is freezing cold, due to
an eastern wind blowing hard. The frozen soldiers send us to stand further away
and to our question why there is no passage, at that time, the answer was “let
them wait”.

After that, slow
passage started while of 5 cars in line it took the last one about 20 minutes
to pass. It is unbelievable that such a small village can produce such lines.
After all, the people living there and particularly the cars coming from Jubara
got there having gone into the village via the same CP, as the village is “locked
up” from all sides. So what is there to check? That new cars were born out of
nothing? We stayed here for an hour and the lines kept their size. In line
there were donkeys, horses, mules, cars, the old and the young and all in this freezing
wind.

A very old man, who
walked with great difficulty, arrived from the A-ras junction and was not
allowed to enter Jubara. He slowly hobbled his way back towards A-Ras.

A man with 2 full
plastic bags, on his way to the village, was detained to be checked and
eventually was not permitted passage. He wanted to give his bags to a friend,
an owner of horse and carriage, but was not permitted to do so and was turned
back too.

When we left there was
another young man detained for checking who hoped he will be allowed to pass in
spite of not living in Jubara. Due to language problems we could not ascertain
what his reason was.

8.10 Anabta

Upon walking up to the
CP we thought it has been abandoned, for a moment we believed the army has
decided to give up one CP, as promised by our politicians. But then we
discovered the soldiers huddled in their little checking cubicles and letting
the cars pass with a slight raise of their hand. To our question what is
happening said a soldier that there is nothing to check. So why have a CP? The
army’s god may have an answer to that.

9.35 Jit junction is open and unmanned

9.50 Qalqiliya

The CP is fast acting
and though there is along line of cars leaving town, they pass fast. And so do
pedestrians.

We have not managed to
find Amer’s nursery, so did not visit it.