Habla, Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim), Te’enim Crossing, Tue 16.11.10, Afternoon
The plant nurseries that were always open when we came in the past are closed for the Eid el Adha holiday.
13:55 Habla gate (north) Gate 1393
The gate is closed. A sole tractor driver waits for it to open. He’s been waiting since 13:00 in vain. That he’s the only one there doesn’t improve his bleak mood. Karin phones the humanitarian office. A. says that Gate 1393 is closed. And the driver has to return home through Gate 947 (south Habla). But first we have to call the brigade headquarters at Efraim. There they say, contradicting the humanitarian office, that Gate 947 is also closed. Falamya gate is the only one open. It’s far away. And now, additional information – on the morning of the holiday no once crossed, so they decided not to open the gates at the appointed time. Karin reported to the officer that the tractor was allowed to cross in the morning (it isn’t likely he infiltrated into Israel riding the tractor). In response to this fact, the officer said he’ll talk to the crossings officer about it. Back to the humanitarian office. A. hears from us that the Efraim brigade headquarters knows nothing about crossing through Habla south. He’ll also contact the crossings officer (while we’re on hold for the humanitarian office they’re playing “Kama tov sheshavta habayita” [It’s so good you’re home]. But the tractor driver isn’t home yet.. A. tells us that at Efraim brigade headquarters they know nothing about closing the Habla gate. They tell us it will open at 17:00. I couldn’t ask the Palestinian (unfortunately, I don’t speak Arabic) if he had been informed ahead of time about when the gate opens.
14:55 Falamya gate
We drove through the village of Suron the way to Falamya. A local driver went out of his way to direct us; maybe he saw the flag. Falamya gate is open and no one is crossing. A friendly guard (a reservist) notes it’s quiet today. He wonders whether we’re not afraid to drive around in the (occupied) territories. We go through Kafr Jamal. A local taxi driver directs us to Kafr Asur. In response to our question, “Is it ok for us to be here?,” he smiles broadly: “Ahalan we-Sahalan!” (Welcome!) In Kafr Asur a cordial woman shows us the way to Beit Lid. She kisses us goodbye. Three guides who were happy to see us.
16:30 Efraim crossing
People celebrating the holiday who received permits to visit for Eid el Adha are being driven to their relatives’ homes in Israel. One family was embarrassed. Three of its members, from Tulkarm, were allowed to cross, but the mother is being delayed. They’ve been waiting for her two and a half hours. Her Israeli son says she has a permit. We go through the revolving gate. The guard roars at us to go back. When we ask why the woman is being delayed, he responds in these words: She’s being delayed for reasons of security. They’re allowed to detain her for no reason for three hours. She’s only been detained for two and a half hours, so we’re allowed to hold her half an hour longer. It’s all been documented, the guard announces. Karin calls the humanitarian office for the second time today. They’ll look into it. Meanwhile we inform the Efrayim brigade about the incident. Why did they give a permit, the son complains, if they don’t let her cross? Just to harass her? It would be better not to give a permit at all. What do they want to do, take her photograph? It makes no sense. Soon the permit, which is only valid for a short time anyway, will expire. At 20:00 they have to return to the (occupied) territories. The people from Tulkarm look anxiously at their watches. The food is getting cold, the invited guests are waiting, and the valuable, rare opportunity is slipping away. While Karin is talking to the humanitarian office the mother miraculously appears – 67 years old. Her face smooth and beaming, but she walks with difficulty. It’s hard to imagine her physically active. She parts from us very warmly. How little time is left to them to celebrate together.
Te’enim crossing
A female soldier asks, “What’s new?” and inspects the trunk and looks inside the car. It isn’t clear why.
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Habla
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Habla CP (1393)
The Habla checkpoint (1393) was established on the lands of the residents of Qalqilya, on the short road that
connected it for centuries to the nearby town of Habla. The separation barrier intersects this road twice and cut off the residents of Qalqilya from their lands in the seam zone.(between the fence and the green line).
There is a passage under Road 55 that connects Qalqilya to the sabotage This agricultural barrier is used by the farmers and nursery owners established along Road 55 from the Green Line and on both sides of the kurkar road leading to the checkpoint.
This agricultural checkpoint serves the residents of Arab a-Ramadin al-Janoubi (detached from the West Bank), who pass through it to the West Bank and back to their homes. The opening hours (3 times a day) of this agricultural checkpoint are longer than usual, about an hour (recently shortened to 45 minutes), and are coordinated with the transportation hours of a-Ramadin children studying in the occupied in the West Bank.
Nina SebaAug-18-2025Habla: The gate is in the process of closing
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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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