Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim), Jubara (Kafriat), Tue 9.2.10, Afternoon
We started the shift from the Northside heading to Irtah but as we usually start from the South, we got lost and drove further north to Shueika. We tried to cross the separation barrier at the Shueika gate on the road leading back to Tulkarem but it was closed. We drove to the one house of Shueika that remained on this side of the barrier, separated from the village, and asked the family there what times the gate opens. They said it opens for a few minutes at 07:00, 14:00 and 16:00 but they don’t think we will be allowed to use it as it is mostly used by this one family and with a special permit.
We tried the checkpoint at Nizanei Oz but we were not allowed to use this one either so we drove back to find the usual way to Irtah.
Irtah
We arrived at the checkpoint at 16:00. First, we passed by the cargo area which was quiet and about to close. Then we drove to the back of the pedestrian checkpoint and saw a trickle of people coming out and no one waiting to come in.
The front was very crowded. The carousel was opening only for a few seconds allowing a small number of people in and closing again so it was a slow process and as more and more people were arriving it got even more crowded. Some people gave up and were sitting on the side saying they prefer to wait till after five instead of negotiating the entrance. The passage leading to the entrance was full almost to the point where it reaches the parking. It was not possible to count the people. We spoke to one of the guards but he refused to call the CP manager and said he will pass our message to speed up the process.
Jubara
We asked for the key to get into the village but were refused with no explanation. We tried to explain that we often use the gate and have permission to do so but this didn’t help so we continued to Tulkarem.
Tulkarem
The checkpoint seemed deserted although there may have been soldiers on the tower. A few cars drove in and out without inspection.
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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Jubara (Kafriat)
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The Jabra checkpoint was on Road 557, south of Tulkarm, on the side of the Figs Pass, which is located within the Palestinian Authority (a few kilometers east of the Green Line), and serves as an entry barrier from the territories to Israel. The checkpoint to the village of Jubara, which until 2013 was in the seam area, blocked and surrounded by a fence, was intended for the passage of the family members of the house next to the checkpoint, and also for the MachsomWatch volunteers (with special permission only), on their way to checkpoint 753. on the other side of the village. The soldiers supervising the "fig crossing" also supervised the crossing at this checkpoint, in our shifts we often waited a long time until the key was found and the gate opened. The checkpoint was abolished and became part of the separation fence that was moved west following the High Court.
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Shweika
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Shweika
The checkpoint is located north of the Palestinian city of Shweika. In this area, the separation barrier was built east of the Green Line, for no apparent reason. There is no settlement there that should be in succession with the State of Israel.
But ... there is a single house that belongs to a Palestinian family. The separation barrier cut off the house and its occupants from the Palestinian settlement and left them in the seam area. That is, between the fence and the West Bank.
The residents of the house are supposed to manage their lives in connection with the settlements in the West Bank. They are not allowed to move within the State of Israel. In order to reach the West Bank, they need a permit and soldiers to open the checkpoint for them ...
One more catch...
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