Reihan, Shaked, Sat 8.8.09, Morning

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Shaked-Tura Checkpoint 07:30-08:00 (Approximately)

There is constant but light traffic of pedestrians and vehicles in both directions.  People coming through tell us that there are days in which they have to wait for an hour or more, and there are days when they go through quickly.  Today people go through quickly and the soldiers sound polite (from a distance).  Today there is also a woman from the military police at the checkpoint.

Five young people are waiting in the area of the checkpoint in the sun who tried to the seamline zone without passing through the checkpoint.  (It is not clear to us how) and without permits.  We were told that they are waiting for an answer as to what will happen to them.  By the time we considered intervening, all of them were released, but were returned to the West Bank and did not enter the seamline zone.

Reihan Barta’a Checkpoint 08:10-09:00 (Approximately)

On our way to the upper entrance to the terminal in the sleeve we encountered large groups of people coming out from the terminal as if a traffic jam had suddenly dispersed.  People entering the seamline zone told us that they had to wait in the terminal for more than an hour.  No one was waiting next to the turnstile and two windows were open in the terminal.  Until we left people coming out said they had gotten through in a few minutes.  There is a lot of traffic in both directions, and a lot of families in holiday clothes are entering the West Bank.  The soldier in the first window closes the turnstile occasionally to control the number of people entering and exiting (the turnstile serves people going in both directions) but people go through quickly.

Passengers in cars entering the West Bank are checked next to the vehicle checkpoint, and a few cars are waiting to go in the opposite direction from the West Bank to the seamline zone.  Cars are also not being delayed.  (In the direction of the seamline zone cars must enter a closed facility which makes it difficult for us to observe).