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

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Observers: 
Rachela H. and Ruti T. (Reporting), Marcia L., Translation
Apr-2-2017
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Morning

 06:00 – Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
The upper parking lot and surrounding area was filled with vehicles and workers who arrived from the West Bank. They are gathering next to them or are waiting for others. In the lower, Palestinian parking lot, there are still parking places and we are invited to park there. But surprise – there is absolutely no line at the entrance to the terminal! They tell us that for a week already, there are no lines at Barta’a Checkpoint in the morning. Suddenly a small line of 10 – 15 people forms because the turnstile is locked when an army vehicle crosses the checkpoint on the road between the turnstile and the terminal. A notice in Arabic hangs next to the turnstile, which explains that anyone who arrives after 11:00 a.m., has to ring the bell and someone will come to open it. Someone asks for our help with removing a prohibition from entering Israel and we refer him to Tami. 06:40 – Yabed-Dotan Checkpoint Indeed no one delays the cars at this checkpoint, but they are moving as if in slow motion from ruts in the road. We have already reported about these especially deep ruts that injure the cars and make the drivers crazy. On our way back to the next checkpoint, we saw that at Barta’a Checkpoint a line formed in any case, but indeed, it was not long.

07:10 – Tura-Shaked Checkpoint It was opened on time, at 06:30 (this doesn’t always happen) but the passage is very slow. People complain that the new female soldier in the inspection room doesn’t know her work. Someone says that next to her is “an Arab soldier who doesn’t behave well with people.” It appears this is a new company manning the checkpoint. Even school children pass through the inspection room this morning, something that additionally delays the passage of the workers. We didn’t see this with our own eyes, but saw pupils that crossed the checkpoint on the main road. Many cars pass in two directions, and to us it didn’t seem that they were new soldiers. At 07:50, there already was no line at the turnstile