Azzun, Beit Iba, Jit, Mon 7.1.08, Afternoon
15.40 Hardly any movement and people leaving Nablus are checked on a list.
16.00 A Palestinian who returns from work in Natanya complains that in the mornings the checkpoint is opened late and when it rains the pedestrian passage is flooded. There is no drainage and people have to walk in the water. The representative of the DCO promised to investigate the problem.
A loaded donkey cart goes on the road to Nablus. The donkey stops and defecates next to the checkpoint. The soldier forces the driver to collect the animal droppings. Elisheva feels the insult to the man and helps him. The commander, sergeant Y. comes up, hears what she has to say and says he will speak to the soldier. The soldier is angry and says that if he wanted to he could have stopped the man from going through and if he himself dirties anything he cleans it up.
Palestinians who come through Nablus tell of long lines which move very slowly at Anabta.
Although there are few people today at Beit Iba people are furious at the new order of things which includes the magnometer which is very sensitive to even a buckle. An elderly man comes up and complains about a woman soldier who speaks rudely and that he has to take his belt off. He says that all he wants to do is visit his son. And that Hasan Nasrallah should come to this place.
16.45 A rolling checkpoint at Jit. 30 cars from the north checked by two soldiers who stand next to a spiked barrier. Cars with yellow plates bypass the long line quickly. After the crosspoint is another checkpoint for those coming from the west. More than 20 cars. No blue police today on the road. Is this in preparation for the visit of Bush.
16.50 The pink house, Shvut Ami, is lit up. The entrance to Azzun is open and there are no soldiers.