Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

06:15 Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint

06:15 Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint
Everything is proceeding "as usual".  In the upper parking lot on the seamline zone side workers are waiting for their rides to work.   There is a long line on the Palestinian side that continues to the end of the parking lot.  People enter the turnstile in groups of 50 – 100 at a time.  The line does not get any shorter because many people are continuing to arrive at this time of day.  The Palestinian attendants are doing their jobs keeping order and collecting parking fees.

At Leah's suggestion, we went to talk to the truck drivers who were waiting to be checked at the vehicle checkpoint.  The facility only opens at 08:00, but they arrive much earlier to get a place in line.  One driver told us that he leaves home in East Barta'a at 03:00 in the morning, drives to load his cargo at the factory in Tulkarem and then drives to the checkpoint to get there by 04:00.  He estimates that his truck will be checked at 09:00 – six hours after he got up and left home.   Since the inspection takes an hour and a half, he will only be on his way at 10:30.  Another driver told us that he got to the checkpoint at 05:30 and is 20th in line.  The first drivers in line are those who have been waiting since yesterday afternoon.    There is only one authorized refrigerated truck.   A driver told us that he transports various types of processed meat in an unrefrigerated truck.   The Barta'a Regional Council requested that he be allowed to cross through without waiting in line, but the checkpoint commanders refuse and explain that his place in line depends upon the other colleagues.  Another driver explained that the vehicle inspection facility is open until 14:00, but anyone arriving before 13:00 will be checked even if the inspection takes until 16:00 or 17:00.   All of the approved truck drivers are from East Barta'a in the seamline zone.  The opening hours have not yet been set for the upcoming holiday of Eid Al Adha that begins on Monday September 12th.  The holiday consists of a day of fasting followed by three days of celebration.

07:10 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint
Young schoolchildren are crossing to school in the village of Tura on the other side of the fence.    We picked up some cute girls in our car and brought them to the checkpoint.   The checkpoint opened ten minutes late at 06:40.  One person tells us that he crossed to the seamline zone within 15 minutes.  Another person says that it took him a half hour and is angry that we have not done anything to improve the situation.  Another says that the computer was not working and that crossing takes a long time.  

, 07:50 – The new kiosk opposite the school in Um A-Reihan is still closed, but the bakery next to it is open.  We had a breakfast of freshly baked pita bread with hyssop while listening to the children singing in assembly in the school yard.