'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Mon 5.5.08, Morning
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Observers:
Lea R., Neta G. (reporting)
May-5-2008
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Morning
Translation: Devorah K.
05:30 Reihan-Barta'a CP
The flag of the state and the banner of the company are flying above the road to the CP. In the lower parking lot, about 80 men are crowded together in front of the closed gate that leads to the teminal and about 30 women are waiting at the side. The gate is opened about ten minutes late. People are stressed and angry, not because the opening is late, but because of what they expect will happen to them in the terminal. Women, seamstresses who work in East Barta'a, keep arriving from the West Bank in taxis, ten women to a taxi.
After the gate is opened, the people enter the terminal in fives, alternating groups of men and women.
05:50 - Even this early, the terminal looks as if it is completely full. Those entering through the gate have to wait in the sleeve
before entering the building itself.
05:50 - Even this early, the terminal looks as if it is completely full. Those entering through the gate have to wait in the sleeve
before entering the building itself.
B., a resident of A'araka, who works in the industrial zone Shahak, complains that they do not allow him to go through the CP at Shaked-Tura, a distance of ten minutes from his village and close to his place of work. Instead, he has to travel 40 minutes to the Reihan-Barta'a CP where the passage in the morning hours lasts from an hour to an hour and a half.
06:05 - One of those who work in Shahak enters the terminal. An hour later, when we are at the Shaked-Tura CP, the man phones (at our request) and tells us that at long last he has gone through to the seamline zone.
06:10 - About fifteen people are still waiting in front of the gate. Others are waiting in the sleeve at the entrance to the terminal. They call out to us asking why we come there at all if we cannot help.
06:20 A'anin CP
06:05 - One of those who work in Shahak enters the terminal. An hour later, when we are at the Shaked-Tura CP, the man phones (at our request) and tells us that at long last he has gone through to the seamline zone.
06:10 - About fifteen people are still waiting in front of the gate. Others are waiting in the sleeve at the entrance to the terminal. They call out to us asking why we come there at all if we cannot help.
06:20 A'anin CP
People tell us that about 50 people came in the morning and about a dozen have gone through. Three people are waiting between the gates; they "have violated the terms of the permit". That is to say, they did not return through the same CP as the one through which they went out. Their permits have been confiscated and they have to wait until everybody goes through in order to get a form to fill out for the DCO.
; they "have violated the terms of the permit". That is to say, they did not return through the same CP as the one through which they went out. Their permits have been confiscated and they have to wait until everybody goes through in order to get a form to fill out for the DCO.
This morning they did not close the gate toward A'anin at 06:30.
06:50 We left. The passage, calm and slow, went on.
7:00 Shaked-Tura CP
06:50 We left. The passage, calm and slow, went on.
7:00 Shaked-Tura CP
Soldiers are marching toward the locked gate. Three young pupils are already waiting near it. The soldiers open the gate, some more children arrive. Their passage is quick, with the soldiers glancing into their schoolbags. Adults go through via the inspection pavilion. The women students who study in Jenin are exempted and only their documents are inspected.
About 20 people are waiting on the side of the West Bank (Tura) to go through to the seamline zone. A taxi also goes through.
Four shepherds go through with their goatherds - one to the seamline zone and three in the direction of the isolated house. Pastorale in the shadow of the West Bank.
07:35 - A taxi and four private cars are waiting to go through to the West Bank.
07:45 Reihan-Barta'a CP
07:35 - A taxi and four private cars are waiting to go through to the West Bank.
07:45 Reihan-Barta'a CP
There is only a little pedestrian traffic at this hour, going through steadily.
Four pickup trucks with goods are being inspected in the closed compound and four cars are being inspected near the vehicle CP. Five pickup trucks are waiting. Among them, two are loaded with crowded and suffering sheep. The drivers of the pickup trucks with the sheep ask to have their inspection earlier, but the compound is full.
08:10 -Three cars and a water tanker enter the vehicle CP for inspection. The sheep are still waiting.
08:30 - Both the vehicle CP and the inspection compound are free. The pickup trucks with the sheep enter to be inspected.
08:10 -Three cars and a water tanker enter the vehicle CP for inspection. The sheep are still waiting.
08:30 - Both the vehicle CP and the inspection compound are free. The pickup trucks with the sheep enter to be inspected.
People complain about how long it takes to get through the terminal in the morning hours. They also complain about the disrespectful attitude of those doing the inspection and about the demand to stand with their legs spread - a pose that is very disrespectful of the women. They are also afraid of damage to their health from the requirement to go through the inspection machine every day. One person says that if he tries to talk to one of the inspectors, all of them yell at him.
One of the women workers in the security firm has a birthday. They bring her a bunch of colorful balloons. It is really appropriate to the place and the atmosphere!
09:10 - We went to the opening of the upper terminal on the side of the seamline zone. The passage is quick at this hour. People say that they spent 7 to 10 minutes in the terminal.
09:10 - We went to the opening of the upper terminal on the side of the seamline zone. The passage is quick at this hour. People say that they spent 7 to 10 minutes in the terminal.
A military policewoman and a man from the DCO interrogate a man who went by the small windows. His wife (he is 52, a resident of Jenin and has a permit to work in Israel) lives in Barta'a. He submitted a request to join her in East Barta'a, but has not received any response. The man did not return to the West Bank, as he is supposed to according to the terms of his work permit, and he was caught. His permit was confiscated and he received a form for the DCO. Now, not only can he not stay with his wife, he also cannot make a living.
09:25 - We wanted to talk to a representative from the DCO about the complaints of those going through the terminal and about the long time it takes to go through in the morning. After about half an hour, we were told that he will not be able to talk to us.
10:05 - On our way home, we stopped near the restroom hut on the side of the seamline zone. Surprise! Two of the three stalls are open. And they are reasonably clean.
09:25 - We wanted to talk to a representative from the DCO about the complaints of those going through the terminal and about the long time it takes to go through in the morning. After about half an hour, we were told that he will not be able to talk to us.
10:05 - On our way home, we stopped near the restroom hut on the side of the seamline zone. Surprise! Two of the three stalls are open. And they are reasonably clean.