'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Thu 18.4.13, Afternoon
Translator: Charles K.
14:20 Barta’a-Reihan checkpoint
We brought Ali, our young friend, and his mother from Rambam Hospital to the checkpoint. He and his mother are allowed to go cross in a vehicle through the lane for Israelis; they only glance at the mother’s ID. The inspector apologized because he’s new and doesn’t know Ali. He called his supervisor and we crossed without incident.
The Palestinian parking lot is completely full. We didn’t enter.
14:35 Tura-Shaked checkpoint
More traffic than usual at this checkpoint. A horse and cart among those going through – very pastoral. Two families with children cross to the seam zone. A dilapidated Subaru waits for one of them, a fancy jeep for the other.
15:00 A’anin checkpoint
The soldiers arrive at the same time as we do and get ready to open the checkpoint. A dozen men, two women and one child are already waiting to cross to the village. People cross on foot and on a tractor. One tractor driver wishes us a happy holiday (Independence Day). It’s a little embarrassing.
The person who cleans the checkpoint, who lives in Tura, finishes for the day. He takes a full sack to the garbage container at the Tura checkpoint. He says the garbage container was placed there at his request. Now he’ll ask them to cover it so the stray dogs don’t scatter the garbage everywhere. He cleans checkpoints from Jubara to A’anin and talks as if he’s the one in charge.
15:40 Barta’a-Reihan checkpoint, seam zone side.
People walk down the fenced corridor on their way to their homes on the West Bank and are swallowed up in the terminal. A few families and female students cross to the seam zone. A young man crosses, carrying a bouquet of flowers for his mother. Again one of the people crossing to the West Bank complains about what happens in the morning at the Irtach checkpoint (Efrayim gate). He says we should go there, not to Barta’a. Maybe someone should suggest to Yoaz Hendel and his friends to go there; perhaps their connections will help.
A group of seamstresses returns to the West Bank from the sewing workshop in Barta’a. We haven’t seen them in a long time. We greet one another and shake hands.
16:30 We leave a checkpoint that’s operating like clockwork.