‘Anabta, Ar-Ras, Jubara (Kafriat), Tue 6.5.08, Afternoon
14:15
Jubara entrance gate
The gate, as always in recent weeks, is locked. I go to the large checkpoint (Te’enim) to ask the soldiers to unlock the gate for us. The commander takes a key and walks with me towards the village; we engage in some polite small talk, and then as he turns the key inside the first lock I muse outloud “it must be so depressing to live locked like this inside your home like a prison, can you imagine…” “Locked? Why locked?” he asks as he moves the key into the second lock. I glance at his face; no ironic smile, and it doesn’t even seem like deadpan cynicism. Neither does it seem like willful evilness; just a kind of disconnect between thought and action – the kind of disconnect that enables not especially bad but also not especially good people to take part in injustice. I point to his hands that are holding locks and keys; “look, you’re the only one who has a key to this village.” He doesn’t answer, but neither does he raise his gaze towards me. Might the gaze have been lowered as thought began to connect to action? Don’t know; probably just my wishful thinking…
14:20
Jubara, Children’s gate
Six soldiers are crowding the checkpoint. Changing guards. Not a single car or Palestinian pedestrian.
Ar Ras
A few minutes later at Ar Ras. The checkpoint seems totally empty when we arrive; we neither see cars nor soldiers. Can it be that they lifted this roadblock? No; a momentary illusion; the soldiers are behind cement blocks getting ready for their new shift. Cars were stopped for about 10 minutes; 4 of them are waiting patiently down the road.
The soldiers begin to work. It’s an especially calm shift – no special restrictions today, not even “terror alerts”; the soldiers even insist that the territories aren’t under closure today (the habitual closure Israel imposes for memorial and independence day). How can they not know? we wonder. In any case, the soldiers follow the commands they received efficiently but also with conspicuous boredom: a brief look at the car’s passengers and occasionally asking the driver to fully stop the car and open baggage compartment; another glance, maybe asking the driver to open a bag or two and then moving on. Sample checking. It quickly becomes clear that here today all present – passengers, observers, and even inspectors (not as usual) – think that this roadblock is superfluous.
14:45
About 9 cars waiting in line to enter Israel through Te'enim checkpoint.
15:00 Anabta
Neither cars nor pedestrians; not a single person trying to enter or leave Tul Karem through this roadblock at this hour. We immediately continue to Beit Iba, wondering about this complete absence of traffic.
'Anabta CP
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'Anabta CP
The checkpoint is located south of the village of 'Anabta, at the intersection of Road 60 (leading to Nablus at the entrance to Area A), with Road (57, 557, 5576) facing west towards the Einav settlement and the checkpoint at the exit from the West Bank - Figs checkpoint. Until 2010 we used to watch the intersection and report the long columns created due to a slow inspection of the vehicles in both directions.
Oct-28-2011Anabta checkpoint 24.10.11
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A-Ras (The Children Checkpoint)
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A-Ras (The Children Checkpoint)
On Tulkarm-Qalqiliya road (574), east of Hirbet Jubara. tia checkpoint is dedicated to residents traveling to and from Tulkarm, so they should not cross apartheid road 557 (only permissible for settlers).
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Jubara (Kafriat)
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The Jabra checkpoint was on Road 557, south of Tulkarm, on the side of the Figs Pass, which is located within the Palestinian Authority (a few kilometers east of the Green Line), and serves as an entry barrier from the territories to Israel. The checkpoint to the village of Jubara, which until 2013 was in the seam area, blocked and surrounded by a fence, was intended for the passage of the family members of the house next to the checkpoint, and also for the MachsomWatch volunteers (with special permission only), on their way to checkpoint 753. on the other side of the village. The soldiers supervising the "fig crossing" also supervised the crossing at this checkpoint, in our shifts we often waited a long time until the key was found and the gate opened. The checkpoint was abolished and became part of the separation fence that was moved west following the High Court.
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