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

 

06:10 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint

Many workers are waiting for their rides to work. There is no place to sit, so many are sitting on the road and on the sidewalks. There is a steady stream of people coming out of the terminal. People tell us that it took them anywhere from 3 to 20 minutes to get through, but others say that there is no delay. Many people who cross are young men. People stop at the settler's kiosk, which is located inside the sleeve, and has an awning and benches.

 

Evidently the checkpoint opened on time because we met people who had already crossed. One of the workers told us that he holds a job in Um al Fahem, and that he has a permit to cross at other checkpoints as well as here. He asks that things not get worse. Another person tells us that he is working in his olive grove alone because his wife is not permitted to cross, despite the fact that the Liaison and Coordination Administration insists that she has a permit. We gave her Sylvia's phone number and perhaps she can straighten things out. Each of these stories is a world unto itself.

 

 

The checkpoint has not opened yet. Apparently the key to the inspection booth is missing. Two women arrive from the seamline zone and enter the booth, but cannot cross to the checkpoint because the booth is locked. At 07:25 people begin to come out. Three women emerge first and their ride is already waiting. Two cars cross to the seamline zone after being checked. There are fewer people crossing today.

 

At 07:45 we drove past Reihan – Barta'a checkpoint to get to Yaabed. The parking lot is filled with cars, but they are parked in an orderly manner and it appears that people have organized things to keep things orderly. People are entering the terminal immediately and there is no line. About 15 trucks loaded with merchandise are waiting to be checked.

 

The checkpoint is deserted. There are green tobacco fields by the side of the road, and the watchtowers are deserted as well. At Yaabed (not the main entrance) the gate is blocked with a yellow steel gate, as usual. If the gates were open it would make things a lot easier for the residents of the village, but why make things easier? On the other hand, the checkpoint, which is on the road to Jenin, is abandoned, and that does not matter.

We drove back through Barta'a Checkpoint. Most of the workers have left.