Habla Checkpoint (1393)

The checkpoint is supposed to be open from 07:00 to 07:40

We arrived a bit early. A soldier guarded the open gate to prevent people “sneaking in.” About twenty people waited beyond the closed gates to cross.

At 06:55 the soldiers arrived and opened the gates. The gate next to us was covered with new metal panels attached close to each other in order to prevent dismantling.

An Israeli farmer from a nearby moshav waited for a worker and was curious about us. When he understood we opposed the occupation, he told us he’d spoken to senior security officials in an attempt to convince them to provide buses and regular transportation for workers coming to Israel. He thinks the current system constitutes harassment of people who are unable to do anything about it.

Three women from Habla smiled at us and said they’re on their way to work at a school in Kfar Saba.

The vegetable seller crossed. He said the soldiers don’t always open the gate on time, but everything else – how they’re treated, etc. – is great. Another business owner also praised the soldiers and their courteousness. We heard from others that the gate often doesn’t open on time but when the soldiers arrive most of them are pleasant.

The gates closed at 07:40. A man arriving after they closed was told, through the fence, to go to Qalqiliya Gate 109, which is open all day but doesn’t usually admit workers. We noticed a fairly large number of people beyond the Habla gate. Perhaps they were waiting for the soldiers to leave in order to go through the gaps in the fence without needing permits. But the reserve soldier remained on site to prevent that. After the large gate beside us had been closed we saw the small gate off to the side was missing, and there was also a large gap opposite the closed gate which allowed anyone who wished to cross to go through. So what’s the point of the guard?