Habla Checkpoint (1393)

Opening hours 16:45 – 17:30

One more day of occupation.

16:30  We arrive a little early because there are relatively few cars on the roads. Meanwhile, the laborers are gathering – young men – who have finished their work day. When the gate opens there are about 30 people waiting, some with wagons and some on bikes. We speak with a 28 year old man who tells us about his job and asks about our Purim festival. He is surprised to hear that we don't believe in God. How do we explain natural phenomena?

16:45  The military police arrive.

16:50  The far gate opens to the people from Habla.  There they are crossing, one person at the time, but where we are people keep waiting, many young people and two women carrying cardboard boxes with strawberries on their heads and bags in their hands.

At about 17:00 people start crossing from our side to Habla through the check post with the soldiers near the gate. A., whom we know, arrives and with unbelievable efficiency he speeds up the crossing. Everybody has crossed within 10 -15 minutes, in spite of the soldiers' slow pace. The waiting people are very patient, A. calls the names of 5 people at the time and they pass through the check post.  50 people, a few vans and a truck have crossed in the end.

At the checkpoint they inform us about the opening hours at the Azzun checkpoint when reaching it from the square in Oranit:

08:00 – 08:30        12:45 – 13:00        16:15 – 16:35