Habla Checkpoint (1393)

Habla Checkpoint

Opening Hours: 6:00-7:30

6:00: The gate was closed, no military presence, no one at "our" side of the seam. At the Habla side there were many people waiting and talking. We noticed changes in the area: trees had been cut down across from the container, which had been erected for the benefit of those waiting to cross over to Habla. Someone had laid down some tree stumps and thick branches along the side of the traffic lane in order to prevent parking of vehicles there.

6:10: Soldiers arrived.

6:17: Checking of documents began.

6:20: The first group of five emerged from the CP. 'Abd, the proprietor of the nursery, supervised the exit from Habla. All was in order and people passed through rapidly on their way to work. Some 200 persons passed through, more than ten bikes, some donkey- or horse- drawn carts, seven cars and the same number of pickups and trucks. Wheeled vehicles (including bikes) are to be left on the Habla side, then one proceeds for a document check, magnometer, presentation of the ID to the soldier, returns to the Habla side and retrieves his vehicle. Then back to the soldier who returns the ID. The procedure worked peacefully with the single exception of a cyclist who rebelled and declined to leave his ID with the soldiers. Finally, he gave in and continued on his way to work.

At around 7:30 the soldiers hastened to check documents near the exit gate as well. A soldier shut the gate but reopened it as two cars had approached from Habla on their way into the seam area.

7:45: All had passed through and the gates were finally closed.