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Tarqumiya, Thu 27.3.08, Morning

Place: Tarqumiya CP
Observers: Varda Sh. and Hava T. (reporting)
Mar-27-2008
| Morning

Arrival time: 05:45

Upon arrival (in the morning light!) the covered area was full of workers. We immediately noticed that everything was moving very quickly. The workers and the soldiers were smiling. We counted 27 people going though the checkpoint per minute.

 The workers told us that there had been a lot of problems and delays the previous day, but they didn’t know why. They wanted to know why we hadn’t been there yesterday…

There was a long line of cars and trucks waiting to pass through. An Israeli truck belonging tried to bypass the line. The driver was furious when the soldiers sent him back into line. We were pleased that there was no favoritism.

 We asked a soldier to explain what we had seen two weeks ago when a new check post was suddenly opened on the other side of the road. The soldier explained that this occurs when civilian checkers come to practice the procedures. He had no idea why the new check post remains closed.

At 6:30 with almost no one left on line, we left.

  • Tarqumiya CP

    See all reports for this place
    • 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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