Beit Iba, Wed 20.2.08, Morning

Natanya translating.
 
9.15 – 10.45
A short time after we got to the checkpoint limitations of movement were cancelled. 8 men who had tried to bypass during the period of limitations were detained in the jorra. Rina insists we can talk to them, the commander tries to stop her and uses the most effective way he knows…he closes the checkpoint. As far as we can judge this holding of a civilian population to ransom so as to stop us speaking to those detained is immoral and also contrary to orders. But it does not surprise us as this is the same commander whom we saw beating a Palestinian and continued to kick him when he fell to the ground and lay there. This beating also took place in the jorra and we did not dare to go towards it.