Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Ya'bed-Dotan

15:00 – Tura Shaked Checkpoint

When we arrived we saw three soldiers - two women and one man - leaving the checkpoint on foot.  Another shift had ended.   It is a cool day with clear skies and the air is clear and very cold.   We think briefly about the huge waste of people's lives.  Things could be different.  Maybe one day they will.  Several cars leave the seamline zone.   One car arrives from the seamline zone (Israel) and the driver shouts towards the olive grove.  Two older women wrapped in layers of clothing holding tools emerge and go down to the road, and get into the car.  He drives away towards the west. 

15:30 – Yaabed – Dotan Checkpoint

Here, too, we are greeted by a strange combination of serenity and cruel reality.   We see bright green vegetation, white and red anemones, and a checkpoint and soldiers.   One soldier approaches us and asks who we are.  He had not heard about us.   An officer appears.  He has heard of us, but we can't figure out whether he is for us or against us.   A lot of cars are crossing towards the West Bank without any checks or delay.    Suddenly the soldiers all disappeared.  The checkpoint was empty.  We drove into the checkpoint, turned around, and drove back.  Nothing happened.  So why have the checkpoint there in the first place?   At 16:00 we left.

16:10 – Barta'a Reihan Checkpoint

There were many cars parked in the Palestinian parking lot and along the road.  We parked in the upper parking lot.   There was little traffic and only a few cars on this side.  We walked down through the sleeve to the terminal.   From what we hear from people returning home, all four positions in the terminal are operating.   There is no delay and the terminal is not crowded.   People are hurrying home.  Tomorrow is another new-old day.   On our way back a thin elderly man came up to Ruthi and asked "Why weren't you here in the morning?"  Ruthi knows him from the A'anin and Tura checkpoint.  He is extremely worried.  He explains that last week his oldest son mistakenly used his younger brother's ID and his mistake was discovered at A'anin checkpoint.  His son was detained by the soldiers and the police came and took him away.  He has not received any notification of what happened to his son or where he is.   This took place last week, on January 5^th.   The man is the father of several small children and his father is extremely upset.  We took down his name and details and will try and help.*

*A request had already been received this morning at the hotline for individual protection, asking to locate H.Y.  The request was made by his cousin.  When we approached them they already knew who we were talking about.  When we asked how it was possible for a person to have been taken more than a week ago and his family does not know where he is, we were told, "That's the Occupation.  Don't you know?"  We will continue to investigate and will let his father know.