'Anabta, Ar-Ras, Irtah, Thu 29.5.08, Morning

Irtah

07:00 – The place is teeming. The workers say that everything is moving.

Talking to the women who are waiting for the bus on their way to visit prisoners, we learn the following details: Visit is allowed once a fortnight; it is forbidden to bring anything, not even food; four times a year they can bring food and some other things.

Ar-Ras

07:25 – On our way we meet two representatives of a religious volunteer organization (the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel) who live in Tulkarm. They have come for three months and are involved in social activities.

There is a novelty at the checkpoint – two rows of rocks on both sides of the road that allow only a narrow, curving passage. We wonder what it is for and ask for an explanation. They tell us that it is against cars that try to pass the checkpoint very fast, especially stolen cars from Qalqiliya.

Anabta

08:00 – No lines. It's time for a shift replacement and the inspections stop for 15 minutes, including a drill, which soon generates long lines on both sides. There are 25 cars at the exit. When the soldiers arrive, they let the cars pass without inspection.