Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Sun 11.8.13, Morning

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Shaked – Tura Checkpoint – 06:55-07:20

The soldiers have not arrived yet and the checkpoint is open on the Israeli side.  We drove around the check point.  The soldiers arrived within a few minutes and one officer introduced himself as the commander of this checkpoint and the others in the area.  He asked who we were and what problems there were.  We spoke about people who are denied permits and are not permitted to cross, about the frequent breakdowns of the computers at the inspection points,  the inefficient and inaccurate hand-written lists, and how people often find themselves not listed as having crossed here and are consequently suspected of staying in Israel illegally overnight when they arrive the next day.

There is very little traffic because of the holiday of Eid Al Fitr – only one car and one female student crossed the checkpoint to the West Bank and only one car crossed to the seamline zone.

Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint – 07:30-08:10

Here, too there is very little traffic in either direction because of the holiday.  There are no trucks waiting to be checked and the parking lot is empty.  Only a few people, mostly families with children, are crossing to the seamline zone.

We picked up Ali to bring him to Rambam Hospital for treatment.  He is traveling with his mother.  A cousin brought them to the checkpoint – a robust, blue-eyed man who told us a distressing story.  Two days ago he met an armed soldier in front of the yellow gate on the road to Yaabed on the Emricha road.  The soldier asked him if he were a Jew or an Arab.   When he answered that he was an Arab the soldier cursed him, knocked him down, tied his hands behind his back, covered him with dirt, and beat him. He lay there for a couple of hours, and he would be able to identify the soldier if he saw him again.  He is stationed at the Dotan Checkpoint. 

Ruthi took down his name and details and notified the Central Command.  We will wait for their response.