Israel's West Bank checkpoints, from the eyes of Palestinian workers

It's a public holiday but not for these Palestinian workers at Israeli settlements. Look at the workers, look at their faces. No one is happy, all of them are in debt. Here they line up single file to be filtered through checkpoints and authorized entry to work in land that they consider is occupied by Israel. They built the wall after taking our land and properties and now we

[work] for them. Is there anyone in the world who commutes to work at 03:30 am? For most here, there is little choice but to work for their occupiers. I wake up at 1:30 a.m At 02.00 am, I leave from Jenin to the checkpoint. Its been an hour and a half that I have been waiting here for. It would solve the problem if they would open this

check point earlier. Here in the West Bank the Real News Network spoke to workers on the ground. It's a hard situation and especially for old people because there is (human) traffic. The checkpoints are complicated. The relaxation does not exist. But this is our daily life. We have responsibilities and duties towards our sons and daughters because there is no work in the West Bank. These workers and

their communities are surrounded by checkpoints and cut off from other villages and wider society. The difficult conditions of our life is forcing us to go to our occupied land and work because every Palestinian family they have sons, young people and university graduates. Its hard for parents to see their graduated sons sitting at home. They have no jobs. Fathers are forced to work when they are old.

For example, I'm 62 years old and I come here every day at 3 am because I see my sons who are not able to build their future. I want to keep helping them. We are forced to adapt to the occupation. Israeli settlers are not subject to the same treatment and can enjoy freedom of movement. I spend 30-60 minutes at the checkpoint. The [Israeli] worker has no

checkpoints. They do not get inspected and are not asked to remove their clothes. Also, there is a gap in the rate. Our rate is not like theirs. They dont need a [military] permit to work but we do. I cant cross the checkpoint without a permit. They dont pay for a permit. They have insurance. Everything is different. Israeli workers have everything. Checkpoints are a mechanism to control

and restrict movement across occupied Palestine. [Israeli] settlers have their own checkpoints. They drive freely and we have to wait, if we are in cars. But at this checkpoint, we have to cross on foot. The work we do is not done by Israelis. All of the workers that are here are doing hard work. Hard work. The work they do is the nice and easy one. All of

these poor people that you see around you are doing exhausting work. They work in construction, floors, ceiling and all other hard works. Yes they need us [workers]. 500 meters away from Al Tayeb checkpoint Palestinian farmers wait for Israeli soldiers to unlock gates and allow them access to their own agricultural land. I come here every day and usually its open Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. But last time

I came it was closed. So I decided to come today and they don't allow me to cross. A population ruled by Israeli military law these citizens are granted entry to work only as cheap labor which amounts to what the U.N and numerous humanitarian organizations call an apartheid regime. What can we say? It's an occupation. We have no power to change this. I consider all of Palestine

to be our land. They built a wall in it. It is a racist wall built by land grabbers. But there are no solutions. Dont tell me the world doesnt know! All Arab and Western countries know and are complicit with the occupation.