'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Ya'bed-Dotan
14:40 – Tura Shaked Checkpoint
A woman was waiting under the shed, three cars crossed, and that was all. The area around the checkpoint is littered and filled with unnecessary facilities.
15:00 – A'anin Checkpoint
The checkpoint opened at 15:00. Only ten farmers and one tractor were waiting to cross. Our friend M., the farmer and tractor driver, told us that permits are not being renewed.
People crossed one by one to go home to A'anin. We did not wait for the checkpoint to close. We drove past the road and the parking lots near Barta'a Checkpoint. It seemed that today the parking lot was particularly full.
15:30 – Yaabed – Dotan Checkpoint
Small yellow signs had been added to the large sign that forbids entry into Area A. (See our report from 25.04). The checkpoint was manned but during the short time we were there cars were not delayed.
15:50 – Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint, Palestinian Side
The parking lot was full of people coming home from work, private cars, and drivers waiting for passengers. The new covered space and the area around it are ready to be used. The shaded area looks like a corral. Four newly installed turnstiles are supposed to make the crossing easier. New restrooms were also put up next to the shed; they are supposed to be nice and new but are really quite bad.
16:20 – We returned to our car. The vendor selling drinks and snacks, who was forced to leave the parking lot, has moved his stand to where the cars park on the road. A resident of A'anin asked if we could obtain a permit for him to bring his car into the seamline zone through Barta'a Checkpoint. However, getting a permit to drive from one place in Palestine to another on the other side of the fence in the seamline zone is an unobtainable dream.