'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

17.00 – 15.50

15:50 – A’anin Checkpoint – We arrived five minutes after the checkpoint opened and we were told that about 15 people had already crossed.   One person was not allowed to cross because his permit was only valid for Barta’a Checkpoint.  People were crossing two by two with sacks and buckets of olives and crossed immediately.  The olive harvest will continue until the end of the month.

Tura – Shaked Checkpoint, 16:15 – As usual we were greeted by the large garbage container and the litter surrounding it.  A few pedestrians and two cars crossed to the seamline zone and 15 workers and three vehicles returned to the West Bank from the seamline zone.  A shepherd told us that no permits had been given to allow flocks to cross for two years. 

Reihan – Barta’a Checkpoint 16:40 – A convoy of cars were driving to and from the checkpoint and workers were walking down the sleeve.  Students, workers, and women and children were returning to the seamline zone.  People were moving through the checkpoint without delay.  The kiosk was open and people were buying boxes of cakes.  I gave people cards with Sylvia’s team’s phone number, which is always in demand.

One of the security guards listened to my conversation with the people crossing, but asked us not to write reports next to the security personnel because they might think we are writing about them personally.

17:00 – People were still crossing.