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‘Anabta, Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim), Qalqiliya, Wed 18.2.09, Morning

Observers: Observers Rony S., Frances T. (reporting)
Feb-18-2009
| Morning

Irtah

06.15 We arrive at Irtah to find many Palestinian workers still coming through. On entering the parking lot, we meet Ziona, who informs us that she has been on the early morning shift, unknown to us and not marked on the Siddur Avodah.  Had we known that the dawn shift would be manned, we would not have come to Irtah and a long drive could have been avoided.  On our way out we meet a father taking his son to Ichilov and he is being picked up by Deborah.

06.30 Efraim crossing – very little traffic.

07.30 Anabta – work continues “for the glorification of the State of Israel” – there seems to be very little other purpose.  One lane of cars is closed due to the road works and each line must wait for the cars in the opposite direction to go through.  We meet up with Mahmud of Halonot for whom Rony has brought clothes and toys to be distributed. 

 08.00 We leave.

09.00 Qalqilya

A white car with civilian plates speeds up to the checkpost .  This is an Israeli police car with a policewoman and a soldier inside. They stop next to an overloaded lorry entering Qalqilya and indicate to him to pull over to the nearby parking lot. He appears to receive a fine.

The traffic is flowing smoothly.  We leave at 09.15.

 

 

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      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.  
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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.  
  • Qalqiliya checkpoint

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    • Qalqilya is surrounded on all sides by the separation barrier. The only exit from the city is in the east of the city on the road that leaves the city in an easterly direction. This is where the checkpoint was located. When the checkpoint was active until 2009 our shifts watched long queues of cars being inspected at the only exit from the city to the West Bank. The checkpoint was canceled, but there is a military presence at the entrance to the city.
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