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Eyal Crossing, ‘Anabta, Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim), Mon 24.8.09, Afternoon

Observers: Bilha A., Yona A.; Translator: Charles K.
Aug-24-2009
| Afternoon

Anabta

15:50  A new, large red sign, solidly attached to metal pipes, has been erected about 20 meters south of the checkpoint, warning in big white letters that this road leads to Area A, which is under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

A soldier sits shut up in his booth. The surface of road near the booth has been scraped, making driving difficult, apparently to make traffic going through slow down.  Cars go through without inspection.

Irtah

16:00  Dozens of laborers get out of vehicles in the parking lot at the end of their workday.  They run to the checkpoint entrance.  It is uncomfortably hot.  Ramadan has begun and it's hard to imagine that the laborers going through have worked all day without a sip of water.  Only one inspection booth is open but passage is quick and a laborer goes through a minute or two after he arrives.

Eyal

16:30  The few laborers arriving at this time at the checkpoint at the end of their workday are quickly inspected.  Two female soldiers patrol on the outer side of the fence, stop near us, notice our identification tags and say with a smile, "Ah…Machsom Watch…", and continue on their way.

  • '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.  
      Anabta checkpoint 24.10.11
      Oct-28-2011
      Anabta checkpoint 24.10.11
  • Eyal Checkpoint / Crossing

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    •   Eyal Checkpoint is intended for pedestrians and Palestinians only. This is the main barrier for workers to cross from the center of the West Bank. Workers with a work permit to enter Israel can pass through it for trade, medicine, and visiting prisoners. The checkpoint was built on the Green Line north of Qalqilya in the separation barrier that surrounds the city. The checkpoint began operating in 2004 by the military. Opening hours on weekdays from 04:00 to 19:00. We started holding shifts there in 2007. We arrived at the checkpoint before it opened at 4 in the morning. We reported on the difficult conditions and the long and cramped queues of workers who must continue their journey by commuting to work throughout Israel. At the end of June 2009, the checkpoint was operated by a civil security company, The transit time has been gradually shortened, today it is faster, but the Palestinians still have to arrive very early to make it to the transportation. Usually, about 15,000 people pass through.
  • Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim)

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    • The checkpoint is for Palestinians only. It is the main barrier to the passage of workers from the northern West Bank to Israel. Workers with a permit to work in Israel and also for trade (with appropriate permissions), medicine, and visiting prisoners. One can cross the checkpoint only on foot. The checkpoint is located north of Road 557 and south of Tulkarm. Operated by a civil security company, opening hours: between 4:00 and 19:00 on weekdays. As members of Machsom Watch, we began our shifts to this location in 2007. We arrived before it opened at 4 in the morning and report since, on the harsh conditions and the long and crowded queues of workers. The workers who pass by continue their journey by transportation to work throughout Israel. In the first period of its activity, about 3,000 and then 5,000 people passed through this checkpoint every day. Due to the small number of checking points and arbitrary delays for long periods of time in the "rooms", workers feared losing their transportation. Hence workers leave their homes at 2:30 at night to be among the first. Today, 15,000 pass and the transition is faster. Workers are still leaving their homes very early to get past the checkpoint at 7 p.m. In an adjacent compound, there is a terminal for the transfer of goods on a commercial scale, using the back-to-back method.  
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