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Hamra, Ma’ale Efrayim, Tayasir, Tue 31.3.09, Afternoon

Place: Gochya Hamra (Beqaot) Ma'ale Efrayim Tayasir CP
Observers: Nur B, Nurit Y (photographing), Riba B, Daphna B (reporting)
Mar-31-2009
| Afternoon
12:20 Hamra Checkpoint
Six cars from east to west. The first driver in line says that he has already been waiting half an hour, The soldiers are presently checking cars from west to east and the check is more thorough than entry into the West Bank. When we arrive the soldiers begin to check in both directions, and the line vanishes. A few cars passing to the West Bank drop their passengers while their IDs are inspected. That takes about 15 minutes, while no cars are passed and a line again forms, which disappears when they pass a few without any check.
 
13:15 Tayasir Checkpoint
No lines and passage is fast. The soldiers don’t bother with us, but call their company commander, H. He arrives and asks why he doesn’t find Tayasir reports on our web page. We explained to him how to find them.
I have recently received reports about dogs roaming the area of the checkpoint, and have asked the DCO to deal with it since three people have been bitten.. One of them, a child, was hospitalised. It must be assumed that these are the army’s dogs. The company commander said he has heard of it, and would check. We contend that the dogs belong to no one and the council is about to round up stray animals (including sheep and cows), among other reasons because they endanger drivers. The Palestinians of course are not warned, and we assume that we will soon receive calls about missing sheep, cows and donkeys from their owners.
H. displays impressive knowhow about the family structures in the area, including their origins and status – also the problems of each particular family. When Bedouin children come to cross at the checkpoint, he orders the soldiers not to give them food, claiming that the children’s father had so requested. Regarding the Hadidia family, he claims that they are stealing pipe parts from the hothouses belonging to Roi settlement. (He is a friend of Rabbi Shatz.)

Passengers are not taken out of cars coming from the east, but from the west the passengers cross the checkpoint on foot. The vehicle checks are methodical, but don’t take more than five minutes. When I protest about the value of the driver’s pirouette – while he raises his shirt, the car might contain 10 hidden rifles or half a ton of explosives – the company commander agrees with me but says that the issue is "orders" and not everyone is told to lift his shirt. They don’t insist with old people or children. A 14 year old could already be a terrorist. They caught 14 year olds at Huwarra… And the Palestinians perform the humiliating dance without being told, out of fear of annoying the soldiers.

A bus comes from the direction of the valley. Workers returning from a day’s labour (which has began at 3 am). Most of them are dozing on rickety benches. The soldiers order the driver to turn his engine off (later he will have difficulty starting the ramshackle bus on the slope up to the checkpoint). A soldier boards while another checks IDs outside. Two ID cards look doubtful. The soldiers phone to check, and get an immediate answer – the bus is released. So why take IDs to check when it always takes hours? It appears there are soldiers who delay the response as much as they want, and that’s why it normally takes so long.
Those pasing through the checkpoint again mention the dogs, saying that they are on the Palestinian side of the checkpoint.
 
15:05-15:20 Gochya Gate (Facing Roi)
No soldiers, no Palestinians. Nor did we see soldiers or tractors on the way. I phone the DCO to say that the soldiers have not arrived, since they are in any case supposed to keep the gate open until 15:30.
 
15:35 Hamra Checkpoint
When we arrive, seven cars in line from the east, and again they are processing vehicles from the west. In our presence, the soldiers begin to process both directions.
Two vehicles – a private car and a truck – coming from the West Bank and registered to West Bank residents are sent back.
 
16:15Maale Ephraim
A car delayed on the side, its passengers standing alongside the road. We stopped by them and, wuithin five minutes their IDs are returned (one by one, of course).
They move on in the direction of the West Bank.

  • Gochya

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    • Gochya checkpoint, which is opposite Beqaot settlement, is a metal bar blocking a dirt road in the Jordan Valley that prevents residents living in the eastern Jordan Valley from travelling freely to the western Jordan Valley and back again.  This checkpoint, which is supposed to open only three times a week for half an hour (and usually doesn’t open at all), prevents residents living in the eastern Jordan Valley from accessing the town of Tamun, for example, which serves as a regional urban center.  They’re prevented from maintaining contact with family members, obtaining medical treatment, getting to school and shopping, etc.  Children from the eastern Jordan Valley are compelled to live during the week with families in Tamun to insure they are able to attend school regularly.  The locals must make long detours, and risk severe punishment if they’re caught.  In order to prevent them from bypassing the checkpoint, the IDF dug a series of long, deep ditches around the checkpoint and created very high earthen berms.

  • Hamra (Beqaot)

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    •  

      One of the Jordan Rift Valley checkpoints that prevent direct transit between the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, in addition to Tayasir Checkpoint. Located next to Hamra settlement, on Route 57 and the Allon Road.

      Read about the peple of the Jordan Valley and the quiet transfer happening there.

      עין שיבלי: עזים וכבשים
      Shahar Shiloh
      Nov-3-2021
      Ein Shibli: grazing begins close to home
      View the full album

  • Ma'ale Efrayim

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    • Ma'ale Efrayim On the road connecting Route 90 (the Jordan Valley road) to the Allon Road.

  • Tayasir CP

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    • Located on road 5799, It is one of the checkpoints control the passage between the northern West Bank and the Jordan Valley. For a long time, it stood empty and open, with only a sign next to it warning against entering Area A. It was adjacent to an old military camp - now everything is neglected. How much money was invested here, and how much brainwashing was done to the soldiers of Netzah Yehuda and Kfir.

       

      Today, it is very difficult to pass there. Many delays. Often, teachers from Tubas are not allowed to pass into the Valley to villages like Ein al-Bida where the local schools are located, and there are no classes. There are additional days when the checkpoint is closed. In general, there is a wait there of about two to four hours to go towards the Valley and also to return. Many times the Palestinians are forced to use the Hamra checkpoint, which also leads into Tubas and the West Bank, but there is also a huge queue there and a long wait.

       

      Following a deadly attack on soldiers at the nearby base in February 2025, the checkpoint was completely closed for the time being. (Updated March 2025)

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