'Anin, Mevo Dotan (Imriha), Reihan, Shaked, Thu 24.5.12, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
06:10 A’anin checkpoint
The gates
are still locked, the soldiers are late; we telephone the DCO. The soldiers arrive at 06:15, open the checkpoint. Wahel, the DCO representative, also shows up in his vehicle. Some 30 people, a few tractors and a bicycle go through. The Bedouin children waiting for their ride review material for an exam.
06:50 Shaked-Tura checkpoint
Three early-rising pupils already wait at the checkpoint. Soldiers begin to arrive and open the checkpoint early. More and more soldiers and officers show up; the checkpoint fills with army personnel. Apparently officers from brigade headquarters and from the DCO have come to see the upgraded checkpoint and all its new facilities. We’re impressed by the white tent suspended high above a pavilion of green glass in the center of the checkpoint.
07:30 We pass the Reihan checkpoint. Eight pickup trucks wait on the road to cross.
07:40 Dothan checkpoint
The checkpoint is manned, the soldiers stopping cars in both directions to inspect documents. A soldier comes over, asks for our “I-D” (identity card), to confirm we’re Israelis. We’d never been asked to show IDs; he says, to our surprise, that it’s because there’d been “R-T” (rock throwing) here. The army and its abbreviations…
One car detained off to the side.
After a while people travelling toward Jenin are no longer inspected, just those going toward the Reihan checkpoint.
08:30 We pass the Reihan checkpoint again. The parking lot is full; people walk through the fenced corridor to the waiting taxis. We return via east Barta’a. People are waking up; we visit our friend V.