Even so, there’s more freedom of movement.
The Hawara roadblock outside Nablus used to be the West Bank’s worst bottleneck, allowing Palestinians to cross only on foot after long waits. Now, for the first time since 2000, they can drive through.
The Israeli army has loosened the other checkpoints in its noose around the city, and large crowds are expected at the city’s month-long shopping festival, which will feature an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records with a city-block-length tray of kanafe, a sweet-and-sour pastry.
Saleh, the ad agency employee, said he’s ready to have a good time after years of gloom.
“We had an uprising, we had hardship under occupation,” he said. “We need singing and joy. We need to live a human life.”
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