Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
06:30 – Barta'a Reihan Checkpoint
There is still room in the parking lot. 16 trucks, heavily loaded with agricultural produce from the West Bank, are waiting to be checked.
A father and his adult son are in need of a ride to Sheba Hospital. The son has a monthly permit to receive treatment at the hospital. We call "Derech L'Hachlama" [the organization which provides rides to people who need to visit hospitals in Israel] but they were not able to provide a ride. We gave the father the phone number and told him to call in the future when they need to go. We offered to take them to Um El-Fahem, but he said that perhaps someone would come to drive them.
5 trucks exit the vehicle inspection facility. Pedestrian traffic is moving quickly.
We left at 06:55.
07:00 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint
The soldiers opened the checkpoint on time. They told us that about 60 people were waiting in line, but that "everything was OK." A few cars cross, mostly carrying workers.
The children from Dahar-al Malakh arrive in small groups and cross without being checked. A car brings two woman teachers carrying open books. Another teacher arrives.
A man arrives from A'anin and greets us warmly. He reports that recently only a few people have been given permits. He has to pay NIS 10 for each trip to Tura or elsewhere. [About $3.50]
We left at 08:00.