Habla, Irtah (Sha'ar Efrayim)

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Observers: 
Varda Z., Edith M. (reporting)
Jun-28-2015
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Morning

4:30 When we arrive, some minibuses are already leaving. For a change the access road is clear, the minibuses are lined up in the parking lot.

4:35 The lines are flowing at the entrance to the checkpoint. We pick two men to watch for.

4:40 The exit is also flowing. We spotted one man we were looking for, he got through in fifteen minutes. We didn't see the other one. Signs of Ramadan: almost no one has a food hamper, and many men are sleeping with their heads on the curb.

4:55 Back at the Palestinian side, the turnstiles are limiting access again. The guards halt and release the turnstiles. We picked a woman to watch for. She got through in ten minutes.

5:15 We leave.

 

5:55 We got to Hable early, but a few people are already waiting on the far side of the fence.

6:12 The soldiers arrive. They unlock the big gate near us.

6:15 Dozens of people are standing in line at the gate. A soldier locks the gate she opened a few minutes before, but won't explain why. They open the narrow gate for foot traffic.

6:18 The first five people are allowed to start the checking process.

6:22 The first people get through the checkpoint and enter the seamline zone. Two men pass bicycles through the first gate and leave them there.

6:25 After getting cleared, the two retrieve their bicycles.. A minibus drops off more people near the gate. When I ask, a man tells me that vehicles aren't allowed through until 7:00.

6:30 We leave.