Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim)

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Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim)

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Galit A., A., (photographing) guest. Nitza H., Pnina R., Orna N. Nurit P. (photographing) Reporting: Varda Z., and Devorka O., Translating: Hanna K.

Jul-4-2014

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Morning

Irtah/Sha'ar Ephraim Dawn shift

Ramadan

04:55 Near the separation fence. From afar one can discern that even before the opening of the gates info-icon , a group of young men stands on the entrance roof, with the intention to jump to the head of the queue when the gates are opened. Even before one can see the enclosure one can hear the usual murmur of the people near the CP. Groups of women stand to the side. Near the fence more young men assemble. In spite of the crowding it seems that there are less people than usual on a Friday. They explained that many didn't reach the CP as they went out to pray in Jerusalem and thos are driving through Ramallah.

The loophole which enabled entrance through the side of the enclosure to the head of the queue has been repaired. A. photographed. When we opened the small gate on the left side of the enclosure in order to advance a bit and facilitate the taking of photographs, loud shouts were heard from the tower and we were forced to retreat.

05:00 The turnstiles are being opened, the first people begin running towards the magnometer (photo). The opening of the gates is executed as usual in shifts. The leaps from the roof to the beginning of the queue are also as usual.

And the women's gate isn't opened, also as usual, on Friday in spite of the repeated promises. Later the women tell us that now the women's gate isn't opened on weekdays too.

05:15 We went to observe the departure to Israel. A considerable number of men and women have already left the installation and are now outside. Owing to the advancement of the building of the installation intended for the meeting between Israeli and Palestinian merchants, the entrance area was limited considerably and it has become crowded. The cafeteria is covered with dark cloths (Ramadan), but the smells are felt. Inside there are a few young men smoking and drinking coffee.

One cannot see the beginnings of the building of the new entrance area to the installation, which was promised and which was intended to provide a separate entrance route for women, and comfortable access conditions for the entering men.

Our visitor, Galit, speaks Arabic and we enter into conversation with a few women. The main complaint is the absence of a separate entrance for women. They tell us that at the times when one used to open the special gate, the men used to force their way and enter through it. They asked us to help them regulate from anew the opening of the special gate for women. We told them about the former attempts of Varda and Hanna B. to assist in the matter, and promised to try again.

Another complaint is about the necessity to be on the lane many hours before the opening, so as to ensure their passage on time. At 05:00 one of the women tells us that she arrives at the lane at 03:00 when her transportation to work (picking berries) is at 06:30.

Each picker woman gets 100 IS for a working day of 8 hours (7 hours on Friday) and another 20 IS for each additional working hour. In the season they work 6 days per week. All of them agree to talk but not to be photographed. One or two are prepared to be photographed on the side. A few men photograph them and us with their cellphones. When their transportation arrives they get on the busses.

06:30 We leave.

06:40 On the way back we passed near the Eyal Passage. From outside the place seems teeming with cars and people.

Location Description

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.