'Anin, Mevo Dotan (Imriha), Reihan, Shaked, Thu 5.5.11, Morning

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Observers: 
Shula B. (photographing), Netta G. (reporting)
May-5-2011
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Morning

Translator:  Charles K.

06:05  A’anin checkpoint

The checkpoint gatesinfo-icon are open.  About 20 farmers from the village of A’anin cross to the seam zone on foot and by tractor.  One shows us his son’s valid crossing permit, but the soldiers don’t let the son through because his photo doesn’t come up on the computer.  The father went to the Salem DCO where they told him his son had to come too.  He doesn’t want to miss a day of school.  The children of the Bedouin family that lives in the wadi below the checkpoint arrive on their donkeys and wait for their ride to school in Umm Reihan.

06:30  As in the familiar children’s song, “Everyone crosses, everyone crosses – except the last one,” a resident of A’anin is the last one, his information checked and for some reason he has to return home.

The gates are locked.

06:35 – Shaked-Tura checkpoint

The checkpoint gates are locked and there still aren’t any soldiers on site.  We understood, and the DCO confirmed, that the checkpoint’s hours reverted to what they were before – 07:00-10:00, 12:00-21:30.

06:45  On our way east we pass the Reihan-Barta’a checkpoint.  Laborers are coming from the terminal to the upper parking lot.  Their rides are waiting for them.  Seven trucks and pickups, and one Transit, all loaded with produce, wait at the closed vehicle checkpoint on their way to the seam zone.  About a dozen cars are parked south of Zabde in the locked parking lot, on the road to Qafin and Tulkarm.  Another car is parked on the northern side, on the road to Zabde.

06:55  Dothan checkpoint is open and unmanned at this hour.

07:05  Reihan-Barta’a checkpoint

Laborers arrive in vehicles and on foot and enter the terminal in groups of five without anyone telling them to do so – they already know.  A few cross to the West Bank.

Five cars have already gone through the vehicle checkpoint on their way to be inspected and then to the seam zone.  The trucks and the pickups are still waiting at the closed checkpoint.

07:20  Shaked-Tura checkpoint

We arrived at the same time as the little children who go to school in Tura.  They run to the checkpoint and stop to have their satchels inspected.  One little girl runs happily in the opposite direction, to her grandfather who’d crossed from Tura to the seam zone.  She gives him a big hug and he lifts her up into his arms.

One man complains about the change in the hours the checkpoint is open.  The hours for the pupils again conflict with the hours for the farmers and other workers. 

The herd of goats arrives from one side and the children from the isolated house come from the other.  About twenty people wait at the inspection building to cross to the seam zone.  The process is slow.

07:40  As we leave thegoats still haven’t crossed, and there’s still a long line at the entrance to the inspection building.