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

A’anin Checkpoint

We arrived at the checkpoint shortly before 15:00 and a Palestinian told us that the checkpoint would open at 15:15.  We decided to use the time to drive to Tura Checkpoint.

Tura Checkpoint

The gates were open and a few people were crossing by car and on foot.  There were pieces of green plastic lying around the garbage container.  Who is supposed to clean up?   The garbage container was filled with leftover food and plastic trays from the soldiers’ meals.  At one time a local Palestinian was paid to clean up around the checkpoint, but only for a short time.  Are the soldiers supposed to take turns cleaning up? 

Tura Checkpoint is extremely well-equipped.  On the side of the village there are metal spikes embedded in the road that move up and down to stop cars.  This is modern technology.  There is also a traffic light facing the gate from the direction of the Israeli side, but it seems to be blinking a bit.  There is also a spacious booth where the soldiers stand and a watchtower where a soldier sits.   Who is all this technology for?  When we are here there are usually no long lines of people waiting to cross.

We returned to A’anin Checkpoint, which was evidently due to open only at 15:45.  We met several men who were waiting who told us that not many permits were being granted and it was not clear what the criteria were for giving permits.  One man told us he had received a permit for only six weeks.  He has a lot of olives and a great deal of work to do picking and making oil, but he has to work alone because his wife did not receive a permit.   We did not understand whether his children had received permits.  Some people receive a permit for two years and others for only one month.  The man whom we talked to said he would begin harvesting in another week.  Unfortunately it was difficult to understand everything they said.

Yaabed – Dotan Checkpoint

We didn’t see any soldiers and the traffic was moving as usual.  There was a small sign pasted on a stone next to the large red sign warning people not to enter Area A.  The sign read that whoever receives permission from the Rabbi or from the head of security can enter to visit Jacob’s water cistern.

On the way we noticed an area with trees that looked like a gathering place.  When we drove back a man told us that he had charcoal.   All the charcoal factories in the area have been closed and it is against the law to produce charcoal, but he claimed that he had charcoal from Egypt and was selling it here.

A new shop has opened in Emricha that is decorated with plants and flowers.   Maybe next time we will go in and see it.

Reihan – Barta’a Checkpoint

We stopped to see the new crossing facility.  It is reminiscent of a passage for leading cattle.  There are a lot of runways for people to move through, but they must go through one by one.  At any rate, our fears that the place would be hot inside during the summer were unfounded because there are a lot of openings for air.