Barta'a-Reihan, Jalama

15:30 – Jalameh Checkpoint (See Photo)

We brought a girl and two adults who escorted her from Rambam Hospital in Haifa.  There is a long line of cars from the West Bank coming into Israel.  Some of the cars pass through the fast lane, while others are sent to be checked.  People are waiting next to the inspection point, and it takes about ten minutes for each vehicle to be checked.

We met several of the security guards and asked them why there was such a long line of vehicles waiting.  We asked what determines which cars are sent to be checked and which are not, and they explained that it had to do with security issues that they were not allowed to talk about.  We also saw a truck that began to cross and was sent back.  We were told that they were waiting for a permit from the Palestinian side because the forklifts that were to unload it were waiting there.  The guard told us that they take the Palestinians into consideration and that there were good relations on both sides of the checkpoint.  The extra lane that is designated for trucks is already closed for the day.  There are renovations going on at the checkpoint, which account for the delays.  The area around the checkpoint is clean and well-kept.  Workers who crossed came through quickly.

The guards asked us to leave at this point because they had work to do and were obligated to stand with us as long as we remained.

17:00 – Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint

 We drove to the parking lot, which was blocked and there were not parking spaces left.  There were two windows operating at the checkpoint and a line was forming next to the inspection point that we saw.  We called Ron, the second in command at the checkpoint, who said he would attend to the matter.

We left at 17:20.