Eyal, Sun 22.3.09, Morning
One more reasonable day – of
course, only according to the criteria of the checkpoint at Eyal.
Talking to a Palestinian on the
phone we find out that the checkpoint opened at 4:03. We arrive at 5:10.
We are standing near the cement
block on the far side of the road. From here we can see the Palestinian
workers waiting in line to enter the checkpoint. The line ends at the
outskirts of Qalqiliya, but it is too far away for us to see.
We document the line of workers
entering the checkpoint.
5:10-5:16 No workers are
passing.
5:15-5:23 245 workers pass
the turnstile to enter the checkpoint.
5:23-5:26 No passage
5:26-5:30 65 workers pass.
5:30-5:37 No passage
5:37-5:42 189 workers pass.
5:42-5:44 No passage
5:44-5:49 119 workers pass
We stop to observe at what pace
the workers exit from the checkpoint.
5:55 17 workers exit in
one minute
5:57 20 workers exit in
one minute
We continue observing the workers
entering through the turnstile.
6:03-6:06 150 workers
6:07-6:11 No passage
6:11- 6:17 207 workers
pass.
6:18
An army jeep drives by and checks the passage at the fence.
6:27-6:30 299 workers pass.
6:39-6:44 No passage.
6:44-6:48 146 workers pass.
6:48-6:53 No passage
6:54-6:58 136 workers pass.
The line is finished at 6:58
– quite reasonable, but of course, everything is relative. If there
were 8 computers instead of 4 the passage would be faster and it would
make life easier for the Palestinians who have to work for about 8-10
hours. They would be able to sleep longer at night and to reach the
checkpoint later in the morning – but here as well, the occupation
ignores any demand that may improve the life of the Palestinians, be
it the most reasonable one.
While counting we receive a call
from a Palestinian who reached the Eyal at 5:10. After having been checked
he left the checkpoint at 6:10. We also observe one of the workers.
He tokes his place in the line at 6:37 and enters the checkpoint at
6:48.
Eithan, Eti’s husband who drives
us, asks one of the workers about his salary. The worker shows him his
paycheck. His gross salary is 350 NIS for a 10- hour workday, but the
employer deducts 100 NIS for transportation, for the work permit (paid
by the employer), etc. His total is 250 NIS a day. Transportation on
the Palestinian side also costs him 40 NIS. To sum up, he earns 210
NIS for a 10-hour workday plus 4 hours on the roads and waiting at the
checkpoints.
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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