Jalama, Tue 19.8.08, Morning
Observers:
Observing and reporting: Tammi S.
Aug-19-2008
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Morning
Translation: Yael Bassis-Student
8:00 - Jalama checkpoint -
8:00 - Jalama checkpoint -
The trucks parking area is very busy. Most of the trucks are 'regulars' and are identified in the office by a permanent number.Upon arrival, the driver goes to the small office by the checkpoint and gives his number, thus entering the list according to time of arrival, then the number of the truck is announced over the loudspeaker.
Drivers whom we've met at the waiting shed tell us that the above mentioned process takes between three to five hours from the arrival time until they can leave.
When a truck is called in, it gets in through the checkpoint to an area which I could not get into, where its cargo is unloaded and reloaded in a "back-to-back" process. At times this process is done in the opposite direction, but there are not too many items that are brought into Israel from the West bank.
When a truck is called in, it gets in through the checkpoint to an area which I could not get into, where its cargo is unloaded and reloaded in a "back-to-back" process. At times this process is done in the opposite direction, but there are not too many items that are brought into Israel from the West bank.
At this very moment they are transferring pickles.From Israel they bring out fruits, sandbags, flour, medications, etc.
The most common complaint is that there is no consideration regarding the nature of the goods, such as fruits that spoil, and there is no special treatment for them.
At the pedestrians parking area there was very little traffic and no buses of families going to visit prisoners.
At the pedestrians parking area there was very little traffic and no buses of families going to visit prisoners.
The complaint I've heard here was lack of consideration for humanitarian cases. A father who goes in with his son on their way to Ramb"am hospital for treatments tell me that every day he asks the soldiers not to take his son for inspection in the small stuffy rooms since he suffers from nausea, but to no avail.
At that day he asked to meet with the checkpoint commander and placed his complaint. The commander said that it is too bad that he didn't talk to him earlier and promised to take care of that matter.
It is worthwhile to follow up on that.