'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
14:50 A'aneen checkpoint
The gate is open and a Jeep is parked between the fences, but those are not the right soldiers. They leave and lock up. The checkpoint's soldiers arrive on time at 15:00 and open the gates
.
Only seven people and three tractors wait to cross. They say that only a few had gone through in the morning because many passage permits were confiscated and new one weren't issued.
People were not allowed to take in the bags of used clothes that we brought. The officer on site said that since this is an agriculture checkpoint he is not allowed to decide on such issue (a decision critical to the security of the state of Israel!) If orders would change he'd be delighted to help us out (fulfilling orders is above all).
Near the checkpoint we see spring wildflowers blooming in various colors.
15:30 Tura-Shaked checkpoint
Slow traffic of both vehicles and pedestrians, as always at this checkpoint.
The area surrounding the checkpoint is neat. Red and blue flags of the military police are hoisted beside the white and purple flags of the Giv'ati brigade.
15:50 Barta'a-Rihan checkpoint
People begin heir return home from work. Two of them bring along a youth bicycle. They negotiate going through the turnstile in the direction of the West Bank. The new barrier that has been installed at the entrance to the turnstile makes it difficult, but they manage it. It seems that the main goal of putting the barrier there is to make the passage narrower and less comfortable.
A few cross through the terminal to the Seam Line zone.
16:20 We leave a well-taken-care-of checkpoint. A constant stream of people go down opposite us, on their way home from work at the Seam line zone and in Israel.