‘Anabta, Irtah, Jubara (Kafriat), Wed 6.5.09, Morning
06.40
We arrive at Irtach to a hive of activity. Scores of cars and vans are
parked outside and the place is full of labourers, buses and
contractors.
After
we ask several Palestinians what is going on, we get various complaints
regarding the length of time they had to wait to get through the
crossing – varying from ½ hour to 2½ hours. Apparently this depends on
several factors – the time when the worker gets to the crossing, his
age and the specific security guard checking. We are told that earlier
on, due to the crowding at the facility, 4 Palestinians were crushed
and were taken by ambulance to hospital. We hear complaints of
overcrowding in the waiting rooms and inhumane conditions. One family
with twin infants come out. We are told that they are taking the
children to hospital and they had to wait over an hour. There is no
humanitarian line. A grim atmosphere and much anger pervades.
07.20 Shaar Hayeladim.
We
ask for the gate to J’bara to be opened and our request is granted
immediately. We see a J’bara resident parked on the side of the road
who is waiting for workers to come through the checkpost. We are not
allowed through by the army. Again we hear rumours that the gate will
be opened but since the last time I was here, nothing has happened.
Wheels turn slowly.
07.40 Anabta
Work
continues on both sides of the road but our questions regarding what is
planned for the place are ignored. At the time when we arrive there
are no checks, but at the sight of us standing by the checkpost, the
soldiers are prompted to stop and check cars arriving from Nablus and a
line develops. They are also stopping and searching cars, making
passengers get out of buses and taxis etc., which causes a long line of
about 18 cars. We decide to walk away to see if this will cause the
soldiers to cease their activity. Sure enough, as soon as we leave the
checkpost, the soldiers go back to their previous lack of activity and
the line disperses!
'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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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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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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