Reihan, Shaked, Tue 25.8.09, Afternoon
Translation: Bracha B.A.
Salem Checkpoint Salem Checkpoint (Gate 100) is open to Israeli Arabs during the month of Ramadan. People are allowed to cross in both direction and in busses only. The checkpoint is open from 09:00-11:00 and from 15:00-20:00. The checkpoint is closed on Saturdays.
Salem checkpoint is a gate in the separation fence next to the area of the Salem army base and includes the Liaison and Coordination Administration and military court. The checkpoint has been closed for five years except during several days during the olive harvest during which residents of the village of Zbuba who are separated from their small olive grove by the fence, who are allowed to pass through to enter their fields. There is an entry gate to the Liaison and Coordination Administration and the military court for use by Palestinians next to the checkpoint.
When we arrived a border patrol jeep and a large white army vehicle were parked there. We saw no one except for the friendly border patrolman and a woman soldier from the military police. The border patrolman told us that on Sunday buses had passed through carrying Israeli Arabs. On Monday and Tuesday morning no one came and the checkpoint was empty as it is now.15:45 Shaked Tura Checkpoint The checkpoint is empty and quiet. Three pedestrians and a red car pass through from the seamline zone to the West Bank.
16:00 Reihan-Barta’a
The Palestinian parking lot is completely filled with cars. IT is hot, and the drivers are hungry and fed up and begin shouting and hitting for a reason that is not clear to us. Two of the security guards go up to the fence and try to calm the commotion. One of them puts two fingers to his lips and whistles. The quarrel ends for a moment and begins again after a few minutes.
During the fight the exit turnstile to the parking lot is closed and about 20 people have to wait. After several minutes the commotion dies down and the turnstile opens again.
16:30 Workers begin to arrive in groups and enter the sleeve
and entrance to the terminal on the seamline zone side. There is no pressure and no line builds up despite the fact that there is only one window open. Several times we heard the inspector call “Who’s upstairs?” and invite the security guard for an additional check. We could not see what this additional inspection was or how long it took.
Only a young couple with a small child passed through from the West Bank to the seamline zone.
17:10 – Three cars are waiting to drive through to the seamline zone and one to the West Bank. We left the checkpoint.