Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

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Observers: 
Rochale H. (photographer), Noah L. (reporting)
Dec-20-2014
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Morning

 

07:35 – 08:00 Tura-Shaked Checkpoint 

As we arrived the site was practically vacant. A group of people who had gone through inspection waited for rides on the side of the road.

 

It seems that this morning the checkpoint opened on time and even a bit earlier.

Passage was quick. There may have been fewer people as well. While we were there people had gone through from one side to the other without any delays and that was true for vehicles as well. If we are not mistaken the soldiers on checkpoint duty this morning were of the Nahal brigade.

 

08:10 – 08:50 Barta'a-Rihan Checkpoint

The car park is packed with taxis and people who come out of the sleeveinfo-icon of the terminal, on their way to work. At this time there are fewer people. Two windows are open and passage is swift. We registered 4 minutes per person to cross from the West Bank into the Seam Line zone. It was unclear whether they were more efficient at this site or there were fewer people. We spoke with people who told us that indeed passage today has been swift and also that there were fewer people. They added that the main problem recently has been the Ya'abed/Dotan checkpoint, which is now manned at almost all times (unlike Rihan which is not always operational) and still causes delays of an hour at times.

 

And so we drove to the Ya'abed checkpoint - and sure enough there was a line of about 20 cars waiting to cross from the side of the West Bank into the Seam Line zone (cars going eastward, to the other direction, do not undergo inspection). Sometimes vehicles go through slowly and at times they are stopped for a papers' inspection. Also there are times when passengers are asked to get out while the car is being inspected. We timed it - 18 minutes for vehicles' passage.

This hour (09:15) it is not usually known for heavy traffic.