Mevo Dotan (Imriha), Reihan, Shaked, Sun 12.8.12, Morning

Date: 12/08/2012 ,Morning

Observers: Yochi A., Ruthi T., (Reporting)

Reihan

Reihan (Bartaa) Checkpoint allows transit only to vehicles and pedestrians holding transit permits appropriate to the place. The checkpoint is located on the separation fence, east of East Bartaa, and is supposed to supply continuation of the "fabric of life" to the Palestinian residents living in the "Seam Zone," who have been physically cut off from the West Bank by the that fence. Since 16 May 2007, it has been maintained by a civilian security company subcontracting to the Defense Ministry.
Functioning on the site is a large and sophisticated terminal, which includes biometric facilities for identification of the palm of the hand, and small examination rooms to which men and women are taken by random selection. Agricultural produce and other goods may be transferred through here from the West Bank to the Seam Zone enclave in limited quantities, by a group of regular drivers and in prior coordination with the DCO and the army.
Since the checkpoint passed into civilian hands, the Mevo Reihan CP (near Umriha village) has been used as a checking point for Palestinians on their way to the Reihan checkpoint.

Close description

Translation: Bracha B.A.

07:07 – Shaked – Tura Checkpoint

A large group of soldiers are sitting drinking a brightly colored soft drink from a large bottle, playing loud music and talking among themselves. They completely ignore the people waiting to cross, who are fasting during Ramadan. We had to call their attention to a car with passengers waiting to cross. By 07:45 everyone had crossed through.

07:55 – Mavo Dotan Yaabed

The checkpoint is manned and cars are crossing in both directions without delay. Ironically the Israeli driver of the garbage truck is stopped and questioned.

08:20 - Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint

A truck is waiting on the side of the road in the blazing heat after being approved by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. We presume from our experience that it contains frozen meat. There is still room in the Palestinian parking lot. A man with a boy and girl enter the terminal at 08:20. They emerge on the seamline zone side precisely ten minutes later. Two detainees are sitting on the bench in the entrance and are called in at 08:30. Most of the men coming out are busy refastening their belts. The garbage truck returns and waits on the side of the road to be checked. At 09:00 five trucks emerge from the vehicle inspection facility.

We found an empty page from a diary belonging to the Operations Division of the Taoz 644 battalion in the olive orchard to the left of the Tura checkpoint. The page has the printed captions: "Operations Division of a winning battalion with no terrorist attacks from the crossings."