'Anabta, Ar-Ras, Jubara (Kafriat), Qalqiliya, Tue 5.2.08, Morning
Qalqiliya
06:30-06:45 - Very sparse traffic, hardly any vehicles coming out. Later on we found out that there is a closure
on Tulkarm for 15-35-year-olds. Maybe it's valid here as well.
Anabta
08:15-09:15 (back from Beit Iba) - In Beit Iba we were told that "Anabta is a mess". A university functionary familiar to us says bitterly: "students bypass the checkpoint and walk through the hills, so what's the point of the closure?" Upon arrival we see endless lines of vehicles on both sides, coming out of the city and going in. The soldiers work idly, chat between checks. Cars are checked thoroughly, young (15-35) drivers and passengers are sent back to Tulkarm. Arguments ensue, and the lines hardly move. Ronit at the so-called Humanitarian Hotline promises to check. Even when the soldiers start passing people more quickly a bottleneck further away prevents normal movement. Our impression is that we are witnessing bad management of the checkpoint and indifference to the wasted time of the Palestinians. We know, after all, that "they" have a different concept of time. The ultimate stupidity and harassment was the "back to back" transfer of boxes and sacks of mail from one postal service van to a Tulkarm one. Why, for heavens sake?
Jubara & A-Ras
09:30-10:00 - Quiet. Hardly any traffic, probably due to the closure. Unlike Anabta this checkpoint leads only from Tulkarm to Qalqiliya and surroundings, or to Israel.