'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Thu 29.8.13, Afternoon

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Observers: 
Tzafrira Zamir, Neta Golan
Aug-29-2013
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Afternoon

Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham

14:00 – Jalameh Checkpoint

The terminal is closed at this time of day and people returning to the West Bank pass through a gate at the end of the sleeveinfo-icon near the terminal.  A family who crossed to Israel before the terminal closed is waiting in the shade under the trees that were planted here.  Parents and children are waiting for a ride to work in the olive groves.  The children appear to be school-age.

The gate between the pedestrian crossing and vehicle crossing is wide open.  A sign states that soldiers and security forces are strictly forbidden to enter the area of the Palestinian Authority.  We wonder how this is possible when there are army and "security forces" in Jenin and other Palestinian towns nearby. 

014:50 – A'anin Checkpoint

Four soldiers are already at the checkpoint sitting under the shed on the far side of the checkpoint.  20 Palestinian farmers and their two tractors and a donkey are waiting on the other side of the locked gate and don't have the patience to wait for the checkpoint to open at 15:00 and are eager to get home after their day's work.  

At 15:07 two soldiers arrive together with a military policewoman.  Five people are called to enter the fenced in area together with two tractors.  A policewoman checks their ID cards and rummages in their pockets.  Young people are checked particularly meticulously. The policewoman checks people's ID cards against the list that she has.

15:30 – Everyone has crossed and the checkpoint gatesinfo-icon are locked until the following Monday.

15:40 – Shaked - |Tura Checkpoint

A few people are crossing which is typical for this hour of the day.  The garbage container is overflowing.

16:10 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint, Seamline Zone Side

Many workers are crossing to the West Bank outside but not through the terminal.  A few people, mostly students, are going through the terminal to the seamline zone.

Three different people approached us to consult with us or get help.  All we could do was to give them phone numbers in hopes that they will get help.  One exceptional request came from a man who was married to an Israeli Arab and for the past seven years he has been working in Israel.  Now his work permit has not been renewed.  The reason is that he lives in the West Bank and not in Israel despite the fact that he has been given permission to unite his family.  He prefers to live in the West Bank because he cannot provide his family with what he feels is a suitable standard of living in Israel on a salary of NIS 4,000, but in the West Bank he can.  .    

16:50 – We walked up the sleeve to our car.  A lot of workers continued to arrive.  Everyone is on their way home.

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