Eyal Crossing
Dawn Shift
5:30
Eyal checkpoint
Thousands of workers and their drivers arrange their day.
Only a few workers are on the side of the entrance.
The passage manager approaches us for the first time. He asked a few questions and ask that we ring the bell as we arrive, so that they'd be aware of us. He said that about 10,000 people cross the checkpoint every Sunday and about 8,000 on the rest of the weeks' days. Obviously there are less people crossing on Fridays. There are no complaints. He had confirmed that with a Palestinian who's in charge of the order at the entrance to the terminal.
This means that about 4000-5000 individuals cross over in an hour!
We also told the Palestinian about the beach days and now we have an address for solving problem regarding our activity of taking Palestinians to the beach.
6:15 We left via Azun on our way home. As always we are followed by a group of soldiers.
Eyal Checkpoint / Crossing
See all reports for this place-
Eyal Checkpoint is intended for pedestrians and Palestinians only. This is the main barrier for workers to cross from the center of the West Bank. Workers with a work permit to enter Israel can pass through it for trade, medicine, and visiting prisoners. The checkpoint was built on the Green Line north of Qalqilya in the separation barrier that surrounds the city. The checkpoint began operating in 2004 by the military. Opening hours on weekdays from 04:00 to 19:00. We started holding shifts there in 2007. We arrived at the checkpoint before it opened at 4 in the morning. We reported on the difficult conditions and the long and cramped queues of workers who must continue their journey by commuting to work throughout Israel. At the end of June 2009, the checkpoint was operated by a civil security company, The transit time has been gradually shortened, today it is faster, but the Palestinians still have to arrive very early to make it to the transportation. Usually, about 15,000 people pass through.
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