Irtah, Jubara, Ar-Ras – Sunday AM, 04 June 2006 Watchers: Yael A. Lea S. (reporting)6:45, Irtah The gate had been opened a week ago for day laborers crossing into Israel. The waiting line is not very long but the people are very frustrated because of the late hour of opening, at 6:00 AM (and some of them had already left their homes at 3:00 AM and passed through two checks at two different checkpoints on the way!) and because of the strict checking (in addition to the electronic screening) that are being done in one of the rooms in the checkpoint. The checkings cause delay and last approximately half an hour, and occasionally by the time the laborers are done with the checks they discover that the Israeli contractor didn’t wait for them. Their disappointment is enormous and they are frustrated. Some of the workers come from distant places such as Nablus (why can’t they go through Qalqiliya, which is closer?) We have tried to check with the checkpoint commander why can’t they open the checkpoint earlier, but the security guard [from the civilian outfit that staffs the CP] in the parking lot couldn’t reach him, and the shift’s manager refused talking to us. MachsomWatch note: To whom can we turn with the continual problem of the late hour of opening the Irtah CP?A number of buses are waiting in the parking lot, the escorted transporation regularly organized for families of inmates in Israeli prison. Families are starting to arrive and board the buses for the weekly visit. In the passage there are few trucks waiting for back-to-back [transfer of merchandise from one vehicle to another, so as not to cross the checkpoint]. 7:00, Jubara The checkpoint is closed “for renovations” that includes the parking lot. There are no pedestrians in either direction. All the activity had been transferred to Ar-Ras checkpoint; there is considerable vehicular traffic in both directions. 7:05-7:30, Ar-Ras At the gate (753) from the direction of the Jubara, there is no traffic. In the checkpoint from Tulkarm’s direction there is a line of 8 cars.The soldiers are eating snacks from a package, and indicating that each car must stop at a distance of several meters. The driver then leaves the vehicle, approaches them, and shows his documents. Only then is he allowed to drive through to through to the Palestinian Authority area. The vehicles check is superficial.The checkpoint commander spoke to us and gave clear answers to all of our questions. There weren’t any detainees in either directions. 7:45, Irtah The checkpoint’s parking lot is emptying out. A few laborers who went through late decide to share a taxi to their work place in Israel. We still couldn’t reach the checkpoint manager.