Hashmonaim (Ni'ilin)

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Observers: 
Karin, Snait (reporting), Maya (Translator)
Sep-8-2014
|
Morning

Hashmonain CP

 

04:55 Hashmonain CP.
When we arrived we discovered that the CP had opened already at 04:00, which we regretted not having known beforehand.  The people lining the road in wait for their employers to pick them up said the pressure was strongest between 05:00-06:00.  Indeed, there were many more people entering at 05:40 than at 05:20.  People we queried came from both near and far, e.g., Nablus, because this CP is easier than the one near Qalqilya.  They must return through the same CP they entered, but there are no checks on the way back.
Getting permission from the commander, we went to the head of the queue, where the Palestinians enter the checking area.  One can access the queue either at the official opening of a fenced path alongside the road about 100 meters from the vehicle CP, or closer up from an opening in the fence. We marched alongside the laborers.  There are 3 turnstiles for entry, one for exit, open all the time, including now.  After entering, the path divides into two lanes;  one is for checking papers and bags and passing through a magnometer, and the other leads to 2 booths, but they are followed by rooms for manual body checks. Most people go to the latter, since they fear the magnometer. We were stopped there by the security people and asked to turn back. People complained that often the manual checks are slow.  They are let into the room in groups of ten and asked to strip their clothes.
We timed passage at about 12 minutes from start to finish.

The women had left beforehand, so we saw none. 

 

Occupation Economics

 

It became clear to us that there is no public transport at many of the CPs (Eyal is an exception). Taxis with Israeli number plates , driven by Israeli Palestinians (whom we saw approaching  from the other side of the CP) transport the workers. The cost to Shilat is 5 shekels, to the Rishon LeZion area (not the actual place of work) costs 20 shekels each way and some of the people need to get even farther away from the CP. This means that a substantial part of the salary is spent on transport. Workers whose employers  pick them up reported that the employer deducted the cost of transport from their salaries.

It would be worthwhile finding out what the scale of salaries is and how much has changed since last year. 

 

 

Occupation Economics

 

It became clear to us that there is no public transport at many of the CPs (Eyal is an exception). Taxis with Israeli number plates , driven by Israeli Palestinians (whom we saw approaching  from the other side of the CP) transport the workers. The cost to Shilat is 5 shekels, to the Rishon LeZion area (not the actual place of work) costs 20 shekels each way and some of the people need to get even farther away from the CP. This means that a substantial part of the salary is spent on transport. Workers whose employers  pick them up reported that the employer deducted the cost of transport from their salaries.

It would be worthwhile finding out what the scale of salaries is and how much has changed since last year.