Eyal Crossing, ‘Anabta, Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim), Te’enim Crossing, Tue 16.6.09, Afternoon
Translator: Charles K.
15:40 Te’anim crossing.
When we arrived at the Te’anim crossing, Amit approached the soldiers and asked them to open the gate into the village of Jab’ara, which is locked. The reservist told her that he’s been there five days, and the gate’s control panel is out of order, so it isn’t possible to enter or leave the village through this gate; if we like, we can drive to the other entrance, from a different area, but not today. Why? Because a security incident is underway; they’re trying to locate a vehicle with weapons that’s in the area of the village.During Amit’s conversation with the reservist, Zahava went over to the Border Police personnel who stood not far from the road into the village and saw that they had hit a Palestinian man. We immediately went over with our cameras but they yelled at us not to photograph and to move away. After the Border Police released him, the young man, apparently someone without a permit to be in Israel, didn’t want to talk to us and walked down the road to Anabta with his head bowed.
16:10
Anabta crossing
The checkpoint, currently being renovated, is not operating, and a temporary checkpoint has been erected about 20 meters away, next to the junction. A Palestinian driver stopped to complain. He said that in the early morning, when it’s crowded, the junction is jammed and the proximity of the checkpoint could cause accidents. Amit talked to the soldiers, who said there’s no choice, the checkpoint is being renovated, the new asphalt hasn’t dried yet and the temporary checkpoint has to be near the lighted junction. Amit explained that they have to think of another solution since lives are at risk. The soldiers replied, indifferently, “Israeli,” since they’re not the ones in charge, and what else can they do, and anyway there hasn’t been an accident yet…
16:30
Irtach checkpoint
The workers return from their jobs, go through the one-way turnstile in a continuous flow and without crowding. Some workers stop next to us and report that in the morning it was terribly crowded, thorough inspections lasting about an hour and a half, the soldiers put most of the people in a room and searched their belongings while making them go from one place to another with no explanation or apparent reason.After about a quarter of an hour the checkpoint became crowded, the line lengthened and the sun is beating down on the Palestinian citizens who are standing and waiting. When we glanced at the inspection booths, we saw that only two were open. A young man named Tamin approached Amit, asking her to help his brother, Kamil Fauzi, who has a permit from the DCO to work in Israel, but has been refused passage through the checkpoint for the past two mornings. Amit tried to contact the “Center for the Defense of the Individual,” but there was no answer. So she called Kamil, talked to him and gave him the Center’s phone number.
17:35
Eyal checkpoint
We arrived, and near the parking area met three Israeli Arab men who transport Palestinian workers every morning. They complained that it was very crowded this morning, only one inspection booth was open and people had to wait a few hours. Last month the situation was even worse. People started lining up at 3 AM. Last week, they said, things improved but they still aren’t good enough in the morning. Palestinian citizens go through on foot without any problem, and in a few minutes they’re on the other side of the checkpoint; from time to time they hiss at us, “Come in the morning.” The soldiers come over and ask us not to photograph the checkpoint.
'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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Eyal Checkpoint / Crossing
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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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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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Te'enim Crossing
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Te'enim Crossing The Figs checkpoint, located on Road 557, east of the Green Line and the Ephraim Checkpoint (Road 444), is a vehicle crossing, open 24/7 all year round. It serves the Israeli population, including those authorized to enter the Palestinian Authority. The passage of foreigners holding international passports recognized by the State of Israel is approved. In exceptional cases will the passage of a Palestinian be allowed here.
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