Beit Iba, Tue 1.4.08, Afternoon
Trans. Judith Green
15:00
There are two lines, one humanitarian. Those waiting fill up about one quarter of the shed. Reserve soldiers are manning the checkpoint and they attempt to work efficiently; when the lines increases, they conscript more manpower for the inspection, also for the vehicles. This time, they checked those entering Nablus as well, no one knows why.
A number of remarks we heard from passers-by: a man who left the checkpoint with his belt still in his hands: "this is no way to make peace." A man who introduced himself as a professor of psychiatry who lives in England: "What is going on here? This is shameful! Some day this will all blow up!" A man who saw the dog trainer getting on a bus full of children: "Is this how they make peace? Getting on a bus with a dog in front of children who are shaking with fear?" A woman who burst out crying bitterly as she left the checkpoint, answered Nadim's question as to why she was crying: "Because of seeing all that goes on here.",