Agricultural gates 1419 and 1447

06:00  We arrived at Oranit and drove from the plaza to the Fence.  We reached a half-open gate with a sign, “Military Area.”  We turned left and drove along the fence on the security road.  At 06:15, as we approached Gate 1419, we saw a number of cars ahead of us and people coming through the gate. The soldiers began to close it. It turned out the gate opened at 06:00 and not at 06:15, as we had thought. The soldiers saw us and beckoned to us. They explained (not for the first time) that we’re not allowed to drive on the security road.  When we asked why were Palestinians allowed to, they explained that it’s necessary for them in order to access their lands. We wondered why we were forbidden. “An order’s an order,” they replied.  The laborers we gave a ride to were on their way to harvest olives on their lands.

We had planned to wait until 08:00, when Gate 1447 opens.  We detoured to Kafr Qassem and returned at 07:30 to the road from Oranit toward the Fence.  While we waited a jeep passed with the soldiers we’d met earlier.  They saw us, stopped opposite the entry gate, consulted among themselves and over the phone.  One soldier got out and closed the gate with a padlock, motioning to us apologetically.  I think it won’t be easy to reach these gates.