Jalama checkpoint: vaccine refusers for corona

Place:

Jalama

Tags:

Updates during Corona

Northern checkpoints

Observers:

Zafrira Zamir, Adina (Frequent Guest), Neta Golan (Reporting), Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham

Apr-8-2021

Afternoon

15:00 – Jalameh Checkpoint

We had not visited this checkpoint for a long time. Our members of Machsom Watch Marina and Ruthi came here to observe to and a half weeks ago and wrote about the COVID-19 vaccination campaign being carried out. We came to see what was happening.

The area around the checkpoint has changed drastically. The gates info-icon to the vehicle checkpoint were closed. The checkpoint, which was once filled with Israeli Arabs on their way to Jenin and back, is now quiet. Crossing was forbidden throughout the year of the Corona virus and is still forbidden. The Corona situation on the West Bank is bad, and so is the economic situation in Jenin.

One our way to the parking lot huge trucks passed us on their way to the cargo back – to – back inspection point. The parking lot for cars, transport vehicles, and busses has decreased in size. A large part of it was fenced in and is not accessible. The awning where people waited that was constructed several years ago, as well as the drinking fountain, are now behind the fence. At least the rest rooms can be accessed. The only thing that has been expanded was the covered sleeve info-icon , which has been extended beyond the original section next to the terminal.

Men and women were coming to the checkpoint on their way home. Most appeared to be agricultural workers who work in the area of the Beit Sean Valley and the Jezrael Valley. They were not accustomed to seeing us at the checkpoint and many were interested in our tags or greeted us and welcomed us. We went to the entrance and saw that people were moving quickly through the turnstile next to it. Most of the men and women were older and looked tired as they walked down the long, depressing sleeve to the terminal. We did not feel comfortable photographing them and didn’t ask their permission.

Two maintenance workers were sitting at the entrance to the terminal who were residents of the nearby village of Jalameh next to the Palestinian entrance to the checkpoint. They showed us the entrance to the vaccination area next to the terminal. They told us that the facility was open from 10:00 – 17:00 and that they had received their first vaccination as many others had. The second set of vaccination will begin in mid – April. There were some people who refused to be vaccinated, and they pointed one of them out.

At 15:30 we returned to the parking lot. The kiosk next to it was closed.

We thought of going to Reihan – Barta’a Checkpoint to observe, but decided not to because of the heavy traffic.

Why do we take the trouble to report in Corona times as well?

Because democracy’s watchdogs have fallen asleep on their own watch, so Israeli citizens have no idea what is actually happening in the Occupied Territories, especially now.

Day and night, Israeli soldiers (as the State’s emissaries) help extreme settler-colonists take the law into their own hands, unhampered. They do not stop even in days of a raging pandemic and do not hesitate to harm Palestinians – their bodies, property, and sources of livelihood.

Unceasing harassment of the weakened Palestinian population inflicts psychological harm as well. All – from babies through and including the elderly and the ill – are open prey to Jewish violence and terrorism which the settler-colonists are only too eager to exert.

We of MachsomWatch will not cease to report, certainly not now during these Corona times and under the threat of annexation, about the settlers’ increased rampages, those who hurry to set facts on the ground helped by the Israeli army.

Israel rules the West Bank, and by force of the Geneva Convention, article no. 27, it is committed to enforcing law and order there. The inhabitants of these Occupied Territories have the legal right “to decent treatment of their body and dignity, and should be especially protected against any act of violence”.

Ironically, this is not at all upheld.

Nor shall we cooperate with the commonplace ignoring of the Palestinian people’s suffering, and with the Israeli public’s indifference to it. We shall continue to follow up closely and report the goings-on in the West Bank, in its villages and encampments.

No one should be able to say ‘We knew nothing, we heard nothing’

Location Description

Jalame

See all reports for this place

North of Jenin, on the Green Line between Israel and the West Bank. A big terminal for the passage of Palestinians with permits allowing entrance into Israel and goods into Israel operates there.
In the course of 2009 the terminal was opened for the passage of Israeli Arabic citizens into the West Bank. Since October 2009 they may pass in their cars.