Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim)
Irtah dawn
04:50 We arrived and parked by the roadside some distance from the terrible congestion through which dozens of minibuses maneuver while waiting to pick up people coming out on their way to work. Construction of the new terminal building continues (slowly, it seems), so the entire former parking area is closed to vehicles.
We can’t see through the fence the crowded line of people waiting to enter, but what’s happening there is clear from the trail of people pushing and running toward the metal detector each time the three revolving gates open and let them through. Since the gates stop turning suddenly, with no warning, some people are always trapped between their bars (the only benefit: they’ll be the first one to run toward the next stage in the inspection procedure when the gates reopen). Despite all the “renovations” intended to ensure that people proceed along the dedicated paths toward inspection, we see some pushing themselves into line by climbing through the razor wire fencing.
We then moved to the exit. The area is filled with groups of laborers as well as long lines of people arranging themselves for the morning prayer. The revolving gate at the exit turns constantly and emits laborers who’ve complete inspection and are continuing on their way. The system seems to be “ticking along” today: the Palestinians say all the inspection booths inside are open and are working relatively quickly. I asked a group of people waiting near the exit for their companions, to go together to their employer (a renovations contractor who takes them from place to place), where they came from and where they’re going. It turns out they’re now working in Sderot [An Israeli town located near Gaza (!)]. One comes from Jenin (!), one from Qafin, one from Turmus Ay'ya (on the way to Jerusalem) and one from Tulkarm. Think how long their journey is, and what the workday of these men is like, and they’re considered lucky…They tell us that when we’re here the crossing goes faster and more smoothly…I’m not sure, but it’s nice to hear.
Three Palestinians returning from the night shift wait at the gate; there’s no one to open the entrance for them…I tried to go to the offices and ask/demand a solution, and received an explanation: “Now people are going to work, not returning home…”
At about 7 AM, when we left, the area was emptying. But the road through Tira (one lane in each direction, with no median divider) was crowded with cars driving bumper to bumper on their way to work.
Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim)
See all reports for this place-
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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