'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Mon 14.3.11, Afternoon
Translation: Bracha B.A.
A'anin Checkpoint: 14:50
People have already arrived and the soldiers are present. A fourteen-year-old asks us to help him get his own permit. Evidently this is a sign of growing up.
From 15:00 to 15:30: about 20 men, four women, three young men, two donkeys and one foal, and four tractors. Two of the tractors were sent back to unload their cargo of bags of sawdust before they can cross. A female soldier who opened the gate for them to pass explained that they are allowed to bring only two bags of sawdust. A phone call to the Liaison and Coordination Administration, to explain that the sawdust is used for bedding for livestock, did not help at all. One tractor driver pulls over while the other goes back to his fields to leave six of the eight bags. Meanwhile a white military vehicle arrives, with Major N. He asks, is everything is OK? and we tell him that it is not and explain about the sawdust. He tells the drivers that they can bring it and meanwhile the other driver returns after leaving his six bags in the field. We worry that the gate would be closed before he can go back and get them, but N. assures us that the gates
will be kept open by Major G. until he returns.
At 15:40 the tractor driver returns and he goes through after the bags are checked and he shakes hands with the soldiers. Meanwhile we speak with N. and are surprised to hear his understanding views of the situation.
15:50 Shaked-Tura Checkpoint
A herd of goats returns from the seamline zone accompanied by a shepherd on a donkey. The shepherd goes to be checked while the orderly herd waits for him beside the fence. There is little traffic at this hour. Two students return from the West Bank and four cars wait to cross from the seamline zone to the West Bank.
16:10 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint
A few people arrive from the seamline zone. Workers walk down the sleeve on their way to the terminal returning to their villages in the West Bank. One of them tells us that he works in Hadera and has to go through the crowded Irtah Checkpoint in the morning.
There is no line and no detainees. One of the workers tells us that this is because we are there, but we are not sure we deserve the credit.
At 16:40 we walk back up the sleeve to our car and workers ask if there is a line. We tell them there is none and hope that there will not be one.