Irtah (Sha’ar Efrayim), Sun 20.10.13, Morning
Irtah
The early morning Friday shift (18.10) was exceptionally calm, probably due to the holiday, but several groups warned that tomorrow (this Sunday) was expected to be tumultuous. It would be the first day of the agricultural season and many women are due to pass through – the opening of the women's gate was doubtful. Moreover, a large number of permits were issued and many laborers would be on their way back to work.
The gate opened up at 04:00, we arrived at 04:15.
04:18: On their way from the separation wall a long queue proceeded with praiseworthy speed to the CP. Laura remarked that never had she seen such efficiency at the gate. The Palestinians were very quiet. The groups entering the gate were larger than usual – about 40 in each group. Most of the people passing were adults.
We found the women's gate open and a number of women were waiting outside the gate, in the parking lot. The laborers reported that 8 counters (4 pairs) were functioning. We tested two people and found that the average time it took to exit was 10 minutes.
04:38: Laura counted 37 people exiting the turnstile per minute, later on – 41.
04:50: Still, most passing through were adults. The pace was impressive. People seemed pleased and were smiling.
04:56: We went back to the separation wall. The flow is of young people. A group of some 20 youths climbed over and by-passed those on line. No one seemed to complain. One of them explained to Laura that they were late and had no alternative.
05:15: The line was advancing and we left, surprised and pleased.
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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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