'Anin, Mevo Dotan (Imriha), Shaked, Thu 10.5.12, Morning

Date: 10/05/2012 ,Morning

Observers: Neta Golan, Shula Bar (camera, notebook)

Shaked

Shaked (Tura) Checkpoint is located on the separation fence and near the Palestinian villages of Tura and Dahar el-Malh and the settlement of Shaked. The checkpoint opens twice a day for a total of 10 hours. The transients are schoolchildren from the "seam zoon" who learn in West Bank educational institutions, farmers from both sides of the separation fence who have been cut off from their lands, pedestrians and vehicles. The names of those entitled to pass here are on lists held by the soldiers.
Since 2008 taxis and private cars with permits are allowed to pass from the West Bank to the Seam Zone and back.

Close description

Translator: Charles K.

06:00 A’anin checkpoint

A dense fog conceals A’anin village beyond the checkpoint, which looks like it’s in the middle of nowhere. A few people on foot and some tractors with their drivers wait for the twice a week crossing to their lands or their relatives in the seam zone. The soldiers turn back three youths trying to cross. The locals say that apparently their permits were no longer valid. An elderly man in a white shirt is also turned back. Fifteen minutes later the soldiers call him; this time he goes through the checkpoint. He said that, by mistake, he had brought last year’s permit. The soldiers telephoned the DCO, at his request, and were told he didn’t have a valid permit. So he called his brother in the village, who brought the updated permit, and he crossed. How come?

07:00 Dothan checkpoint

A few minutes after we arrived to find a checkpoint without soldiers operating in an excellent manner, a military vehicle showed up and three people in uniform got out. They seem to be the shift arriving for work. But no, two soldiers approached us, asking us to move back from the junction because it’s dangerous for us to stand there (it wasn’t clear why). They remained for about ten minutes and then drove off somewhere. An Israeli flag at the Dothan checkpoint is still at half-mast.

07:30 Reihan-Barta’a checkpoint

Whoever arrives crosses after a few minutes. People without crossing permits don’t show up. So simple, so sophisticated - a work of genius.

A woman from Qafin (Tulkarm district) waits patiently on a bench for her son-in-law to take her to east Barta’a to visit her daughter and four grandchildren. The occupier permits her to visit her daughter only once every other month with a permit she must obtain herself at the Tulkarm DCO.

08:00 Shaked-Tura checkpoint

Vehicles aren’t yet allowed to cross through this checkpoint.

The innovation of the fenced corridor has reached here as well – though it took quite a long time to arrive. The upgrade of this structure of occupation is evidence of a constructive approach. The checkpoint looks to the future.