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...

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'Anabta, Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim), Te'enim Crossing, Wed 27.1.10, Afternoon

Date: 27/01/2010 ,Afternoon

Observers: Aliyah S., Shlomit B., Sharon L. reporting

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.

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15:36 Anabta

The checkpoint is unmanned, the vehicles are going through freely. But before the checkpoint by the parked taxis there is an army jeep and a soldier seems to be asking questions of the drivers. As our car turns to leave, the army jeep also goes on its way.

15:47 Jubarra border passage

Nadim, as usual, went into the open lane for the settlers. (In the other lane 5 or 6 vehicles were in line.) This time a woman soldier stopped us. She looked at Nadim and asked him where we were from. Aliyah answered, "From Tel Aviv." She then asked Nadim where he was from; when he answered 'Tira' she asked to see his ID card. I said that we always go through here and perhaps she wants to see our ID cards. She takes all of our cards, and after a minute allows us to go on our way.

16:00 Irtach
The workers are running from the parking lot to the turnstile , but for no purpose because the turnstile is open and not one window is manned; they can go through freely. No waiting line forms. On a balcony above the hall there's a guard directing them where to go through. One worker tells is that in the morning there are difficulties.