Tarqumiya – children and their mother going to the sea
Today the last group of mothers and children came to Tarqumiya checkpoint from Hebron for a day at the sea. A camera crew came to accompany and film a documentary for German television and for Europe. We were asked by Rachel and Raya to come to escort them and to make sure that they pass through the checkpoint without delay.
They arrived from Hebron half an hour late, but luckily the soldiers at the crossing made no problems. Captain Roy behaved in a humane, polite and matter-of-fact manner, and fully cooperated with us. He is a native and resident of Sderot.
Towards the end, a woman arrived with two children aged 8-10 who were not registered as her children, and there was a fear that they would not be allowed to enter. After a short discussion, the security officer exercised his discretion and authority, and to our delight, decided to allow them to enter.
They set off about an hour and a half after they arrived, happy and cheerful.
We could go home feeling that we had done something good.
We were happy to give a small hand to this wonderful project,
Rachel Afek and all the other volunteers are great!
Tarqumiya CP
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The Tarqumiya Checkpoint is one of the largest and busiest checkpoints where people and goods cross into Israel. It is located on the Separation Barrier close to the Green Line, on Road 35 (connecting Beer Sheva and Hebron). It is run by the Israel Defense Ministry’s Crossings Administration with civilian secuirty companies running the day to day operations. The checkpoint is indeed open to vehicles in both directions 24/7, but Palestinians are prevented from crossing in vehicles, except in special cases. MachsomWatch activists visit the checkpoint as it opens at 3:45 am, in order to observe the daily passage of nearly 10,000 Palestinian workers. The workers arrive from throughout the Southern West Bank. Our activists report on the tremendous overcrowding at this checkpoint; they have observed young men climbing and scrambling on the fences and roofs of the ‘access cages’. This is how the work day begins for those who ‘build the land of Israel’. updated November 2019
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