‘Anabta, Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim), Jubara (Kafriat), Wed 27.1.10, Morning
Translation: Galia S.
Irtah
05:00 – It's extremely cold but, fortunately, it isn't raining, as there is no shelter for the workers standing in the line, which is very long and stretches as far as the eye can see. (Later we learn from one of the security men that every day as many as 4000 to 5000 workers get here). Three turnstiles are open at the moment and the passage is moving relatively quickly. Announcements over the loudspeaker tell the people to open their jackets and enter one by one through the inner turnstile. It also tells them when to stop entering. The turnstile doesn't stop automatically.
There are some structural changes here: Half of the parking lot has been fenced for the benefit of the company in charge of the checking. Only few cars can be seen in the parking lot now. In response to our question, the security man says that classes will be held there later. Parking for the transportation of thousands of workers equals the area allotted for a few dozen students.
The line is still long after a long break taken in handling the passage of workers. We move to the exit, where the workers tell us that most of them are checked in the rooms, which takes a long time – an hour and a half, according to them – and as a result, some miss their transportation. Looking at us they say, "A lot of writing but nothing comes out of it".
06:40 – there is no longer a line at the entrance, but many workers are still inside.
Women turn to us with some complaints: having to cross the turnstiles together with many men rubbing against them, and then being checked by men who touch their bodies, makes them uncomfortable.
Jubara
07:00 – Reservists open the gate for us without any problems. Not much happens at the Schoolchildren's Gate – school vacation.
Anabta
Completely empty.
'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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