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

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Observers: 
Adina (guest), Neta Golan (reporting), Translation: Marcia Lebeau
Nov-22-2017
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Afternoon
Barta'a Checkpoint: Coffee and trash.
Photo: 
Neta Golan

14:30 – Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint, Palestinian Side
The parking lot was filled to capacity.  The Palestinian security guard doesn’t know if we are allowed to park on the side of the road outside.  He consults with his superior.  It’s allowed.  Only few workers return at this hour; most of them work in agriculture in Israel. They carry sacks of oranges in their hands.  The seamstresses also return at this hour, friendly to us as always.  A driver complains again about the deep ruts in the road at the entrance to the settlement of Harmesh (See report 16.11.2017.) The man who sells coffee is not allowed to operate his tiny business here in the parking lot (does someone guard the exclusivity of the settler and owner of the kiosk in the middle of the entrance/exit way from the terminal?)  The man who sells coffee tries to locate himself at the sides of the road, on top of the garbage that surrounds the well-groomed checkpoint.

14:50 – Yabed-Dotan Checkpoint
On our way to Yabed-Dotan, next to the village of Emricha and near the always-closed gate to the side road to Yabed, the soldiers set up a high screened fence. The checkpoint itself is staffed by soldiers. In the short time that we were there no cars were delayed and the traffic flowed. 

15:20 – Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint, the Seamline Zone Side
Many workers are already returning from work in Israel.  We go down with them to the screened sleeveinfo-icon, on their way to the Palestinian side.  Individuals cross via the terminal to the Seamline Zone.  When we return to our car, one of these individuals, a young man with a small child and lots of packages, requests a favor:  that we should watch his packages, because he forgot his identity card in the terminal. He now rushes with his child to get it.  We watch the packages and wait for him.

15:50 – Anin Checkpoint
Only 30 people and one tractor wait for the checkpoint to open, perhaps many did not go to work because of the rain.  The soldiers on duty open a bit late, admit people 5 at a time and inspect their identity cards one by one.

16:00 – All those waiting pass through to the village, and a few more arrive.  We leave.