Bruqin

10:45  Four concrete barriers at the entrance to Brukin “moderate” the entry of vehicles, and a red sign warns Israeli citizens that it’s dangerous to enter.

We met a father and his son. We had the son sign documents authorizing an appeal to the Supreme Court to enable him to obtain an Israeli work permit.  He’s 26, single, trained as a nurse.  They told us the concrete barriers were put in place not long ago.  They also said the municipality offices have been closed for two months now because of the situation and they’re not functioning.  It’s unclear when new elections will take place.  The father tells us all this very hesitantly.  We tried to determine whether there are any problems besides those involving agricultural lands but received no answers.  We felt the father wasn’t willing to cooperate, for reasons that remained unclear to us.

11:15  Shomron Gate

About 15 trucks are waiting for inspection.

11:30  The new fence:  We look for crossings we’re unfamiliar with, searching physically and also asking people, but don’t find any.

11:50  Etz Efrayim

Impressive building activity. Huge construction implements excavate the hill to extend or divert Highway 505.  All the workers are Palestinians – that’s how they describe themselves – some live within the Green Line and others in the Occupied Territories.

We learn the only way for residents of the Occupied Territories to reach this location is via the Eyal crossing.  We drove through the locality and reached the fence.  We took an unpaved road that turned out to be the former security road, Etz Efrayim on our left and Sinariyya ahead of us.

We met laborers from ‘Azzun ‘Atma who had permits. They say they must leave home at 4 AM to get to work at 8, and finish at 3:30 PM in order to arrive home by 7:30 PM.  They take a special bus from Eyal.  They pay NIS 50/day for transportation.  Right near them, at the end of Haruv Street, is a gate they call Maskha gate (it has no number – it’s not the gate next to Hani’s house).  They say that opening this gate would greatly shorten their journey and improve their lives.  But this gate never opens.  Even if the gate on the main road would open, next to the Isolated House, it would be great for all the laborers who have to get to the Occupied Territories.

We learn the only way for residents of the Occupied Territories to reach this location is via the Eyal crossing.  We drove through the locality and reached the fence.  We took an unpaved road that turned out to be the former security road, Etz Efrayim on our left and Sinariyya ahead of us.

We met laborers from ‘Azzun ‘Atma who had permits.  They say they must leave home at 4 AM to get to work at 8, and finish at 3:30 PM in order to arrive home by 7:30 PM.  They take a special bus from Eyal.  They pay NIS 50/day for transportation.  Right near them, at the end of Haruv Street, is a gate they call Maskha gate (it has no number – it’s not the gate next to Hani’s house).  They say that opening this gate would greatly shorten their journey and improve their lives.  But this gate never opens.  Even if the gate on the main road would open, next to the Isolated House, it would be great for all the laborers who have to get to the Occupied Territories.