Eyal Crossing, 'Anabta, Eliyahu Crossing, Jubara (Kafriat), Qalqiliya, Te'enim Crossing, Sun 9.8.09, Morning
Translation: Galia S.
Checkpoint 109, Eliyahu Passage, where pedestrians leaving for work in Alfei Menashe cross.
06:25 – As soon as we get out of the car in the parking lot, the workers come to us. They are happy because all of them have passed quickly and no one is waiting in line. I have tried to find out what is different today and the reason seems to be the presence of new women soldiers of the military police, which means it is possible to handle the crossing without lines.
Habla
06:50 – The gate opened at 06:30.
About 20 workers are waiting to cross. The inspections are brief and superficial. They take no longer than the time it takes the soldiers to write down the details.
Anabta
07:50 – The traffic is flowing without delays. No inspections whatsoever.
08:10 – We leave.
08:20 – We are standing in front of the gate to Jubara, waiting for the checkpoint commander to get the permission to open the gate for us. Five minutes later we enter the village.
The Schoolchildren's Gate
08:30 – Two 'illegals" [in Israel without a residence permit] undergo questioning by the soldiers and a policeman. A driver who happens to be here serves as an interpreter. The illegals say they have been working in Israel 10 days. The soldiers instruct them to wait under a makeshift shed until they get the permission of the advanced command post to release them. In the meantime, the soldiers see to it that they have water and shade. One of the illegals has a bad leg and limps. The soldiers bring him a chair.
09:00 – We get back to the Figs Gate and the commander quickly comes to open the village gate.
09:15 – We go from Eyal via Sufin, passing Qalqiliya, and get to Eliyahu Passage, where our trunk and ID cards are inspected. The traffic to Qalqiliya is flowing freely.
Ras Atiya
09:40 – We barred from entering the village. The checkpoint is deserted. The soldiers approach us and get into the usual conversation with us about our activities and about their "right" to be there. "We are not an occupation army," they say. That's news to us.
09:45 – We leave.