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), Thu 4.2.10, Afternoon

Date: 04/02/2010 ,Afternoon

Observers: Ruthy R., Yehudit L. (reporting, photographing) Translator: Louise L.

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

It’s a cold and rainy day.

14.52

Anabta – There are no soldiers. There probably is guard in the tower.

The vehicles are passing in both lanes without delay.

15.08

Irtah – Nobody has to wait at the exit from Israel. The workers say that for ten days already people leaving Israel have not been checked, and so there is no line.

15.17

At the entrance gate to Israel there are seven Palestinians waiting in line. One of them is a woman with medical permits. (When we went there the security guard told us that nobody was waiting..) They tell us that they have been waiting for an hour. After we turn to Nadav at the District Coordination Office and then to Or at the IDF Humanitarian Center an announcement is being made through the loudspeakers that the turnstile will open in five minutes. It starts to rain and there is no roof to cover those who are waiting.

We give the phone numbers to the Humanitarian Center and to Machsomwatch to the people in line, so that they will be able to call the next time they are being ignored.

15.38

The turnstile opens.