Palestinian workers: We're being treated like cattle

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Thousands of laborers waiting to cross into Israel via Eyal checkpoint, near Qalqilya, have to do so while exposed to harsh cold

Daniel Edelson
Published: 11.03.09, 22:45 / Israel News

The 4,500 Palestinian workers who travel through the Eyal checkpoint, near West Bank city of Qalqilya, on their way to work in Israel, are finding it hard to enjoy the long-awaited winter.


The checkpoint provides cover for those waiting to cross it, but its little shed can shelter about 100 people at the most, leaving the rest exposed to rain and cold winds.


"I usually like the winter, but why do we have to stand here like this?" wondered Majid Nazal, a construction worker who crosses the checkpoint daily.


According to Nazal, Sundays and Thursday pose the biggest challenge, as about 5,000 people crowd the checkpoint starting at 4 am.


"We stand there in the rain like cattle… what are they waiting for – someone to die from the cold?"


Mahmoud Diab Jabbar, head of the Qalqilya workers' association, told Ynet that he approached Israeli authorities several times about installing additional sheds near the checkpoint.


"They keep telling me that it's being taken care of, that a construction tender was issued, but nothing is being done.


"I told them that we would build it ourselves, but they won't allow it," he said. "This is the closest checkpoint to central Israel and the workers have no choice but to stand in the rain for hours.


"The place doesn’t even have a lavatory. There's nowhere to sit down. We are being abused."


please read on. Don't miss the photos.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3799882,00.html

[aquart]

1. Additional sheds are additional places to plant bombs.

Now why would Israel be slow to build them?

Bad, cruel, mean Israel.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. Read before responding. It's an open structure. Why should the subhuman labor be entitled

to human comfort. Israel *wants* these people's labor. Why does it have to dehumanize them on their way in to wipe Israel's fucking toilets?

The next time someone mentions that textbooks "teach" Palestinians to hate Israelis, please remember this article.