Since 2001 we have observed dozens of army checkpoints on paved and unpaved roads in the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and along the Separation Fence; Civil Administration offices which grant permits to Palestinians; and military courts trying Palestinian prisoners. We stand at the checkpoints observing the behavior of soldiers and Palestinians without interfering, intervening only when soldiers behave offensively to Palestinians. Then we try to speak to the soldiers themselves or telephone...

Join us

By:

'Azzun 'Atma, Thu 11.3.10, Morning

Date: 11/03/2010 ,Morning

Observers: Esti V. and Nava A.

Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim)

On the Green Line north of Route 557 and south of Tulkarm, operated by a civilian manpower company. Serves as exit and entry gate for workers from Tulkarm in Israel, and for transit of commercial quantities of goods by back-to-back method.

Close description

Translation: Suzanne O.

There is a long queue and nothing can be done about it.

Azun Atma
6:30 a.m.

There is a long and crowded queue of Palestinians waiting to be checked in the webbed sleeve.

The drivers waiting for workers don't complain any more.

There are 4 reservists monitoring the queue and they just open the gate for those trying to enter or for those carrying extra large loads.

According to them, they would like to simplify the crossing but 'those above' do not allow them to do so, nor are they permitted to write down the ID numbers of those exiting on paper even though the two computer positions are unable to cope with the sheer weight of numbers and the queue gets bigger and bigger.