Eyal Crossing, Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim), Tue 26.1.10, Afternoon

Date: 26/01/2010 ,Afternoon

Observers: Nava M., Ruthi R., (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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Translation: Bracha B.A.

Eyal - 14:45
Two inspection posts are open and manned. There is no one at the crossing. We stayed there for about 15 minutes. People arrived and went through immediately.

15:15 - Irtah
When we arrived no cars were allowed to enter and vehicles were letting workers out in the area outside the gate. It looked a little dangerous with buses coming in afterwards with workers.

At 15:20 a red light goes on above the turnstile and the positions are empty. About 80 Palestinians gather to wait, and there are many women. After about 10 minutes two inspection positions open. However, people enter the hall but thyreare not coming out.
After 10 minutes of this the red light goes on again and we called the Ephraim Liaison and Coordination Administration. The pleasant soldier who answered said that people had reported that things were running smoothly, but evidently people coming in were being meticulously checked.

At 15:45 the people who had been waiting in the hall finally began to come out on the Palestinian side. Everyone is now coming out quickly and there is no line. No one even has to show documents. People are all smiling and happy that there is no line and they smile at us and pass out tangerines and cherries.

We left at 16:30.__._,_.___