Irtah, Ar-Ras, Jubara, Anabta – Wednesday AM, June 14, 2006Watchers: Rina Ts., Elisheva E., Inbal R. (reporting)Summary/general: The alleviation in the passages continues.We had a meeting with the new appointee of the Ministry of Defence in charge of the Irtah passage. The summary of the meeting is submitted in a separate report.Irtah, 6:50 Today the gate was opened at 4:40 AM – even before the scheduled hour! [Ed. note: supposedly 5 AM, but lately has been 6 AM, a recurring problem for laborers who often passed through too late to be hired by the contractors who wouldn’t wait any longer.] By the time we arrived, almost all the day laborers have already passed through, and also the scheduled buses transporting the families going to visit inmates in Israeli prisonsMost of the complaints that we hear concern a repeated inspection that some of the exiting laborers have to go through. The repeated inspection takes an hour, whereas a regular passage takes 10 to 30 minutes. There is still no water in the water tank that is in the parking lot next to the chemical lavatories. The water is very important for the workers waiting in the parking lot for the contractors’ vans (sometimes over an hour in the sun), for those who use the lavatories, and for the prisoners’ families, some with small children, waiting for their buses.Ar-Ras, Jubara, 7:10 The passage is unimpeded, consistent with the regular limitations on vehicles. There is no congestion. The checkpoint commander refuses to answer questions.The passage to Jubara is still blocked, except for people with special permits.Anabta, 7:40 The passage is free, consistent with the regular limitations on vehicles. There is no congestion. The inspection has been discernibly eased: until recently, the driver had to park at a distance of 20 meters from the checkpoint, and all the passengers got out and walked. Today the passengers were permitted to get to the inspection post by car.Juneidi (Roads 55 and 60 junction), 7:55 There is no checkpoint.Dir Sharef, 8:00 There is no checkpoint.