Tura checkpoint: Dormant
15:00 – 16:30
Tura-Shaked Checkpoint – The Checkpoint was dormant. Three cars pass through to the West Bank after waiting for a long time. One young man waits in the shed.
On our way to Ya’bad Checkpoint, we passed Barta’a Checkpoint and the parking lots that continue to grow.
Ya’bed-Dotan Checkpoint – There is little traffic in both directions. The Checkpoint is not manned, but military vehicles travel in the direction of the Mevo Dotan settlement. To our surprise, above the Mekorot water pipe, there is a shiny blue and white sign, “Connecting the Palestinian Authority Consumer.”
Harmesh Checkpoint – The Checkpoint is open as usual. Next to it, two army vehicles are parked on the road that leads to the settlement.
Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint, Palestinian Side – In the new parking lot at the foot of the village of Zabda, cars are parked on a very steep slope. At the entrance to the Palestinian side of the Checkpoint, there is a row of garbage and recycling containers and wrapped garbage bags. Above them is a sign: “Security Area; Photographs Forbidden”
Many workers return from their jobs. Many of them carry gift packages wrapped in cellophane and tied with ribbons, that they obviously received at their workplaces just before the holiday, Eid al-Adha, the Celebration of the Sacrifice. The place is noisy, with people buying things in the buffet cart and at the nut counter. We buy coffee from a boy with a thermos. In a corner of the shed there is a sad sight; a blind beggar with two little girls. It appears that because of the holiday, people contribute generously to him. There are those who also greet us for the holiday. We were excited to meet two elderly brothers—drivers Abu and Abd. One of them, whose wife and daughter (z”l) we accompanied two years ago during the long hospitalization at Rambam Hospital, greeted us warmly.
Recently, the terminal is also open in the afternoon for crossing to the Seamline Zone. A standing sign before the vehicle checkpoint directs people there.