Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

06.25-07.05. Turah-Shaked checkpoint.

A low, heavy fog. Tobacco plants have been planted in the fields.  The soldiers open the checkpoint on time at 6.30, but meanwhile only two people arrive from the W. Bank, and exit the checkpoint at 6.45.

Until we left there passed in total four people and three cars, without delay. As we wonder if this is due to the weather or for some other reason, a man approaches us and tells us that in his village, Turah, and in other places, a number of people with permits have been forbidden passage. In addition, another man who passed in his car said, “The soldiers now are garbage, simply garbage.”  Why?  “Because of the way they speak and their attitude.”  It is hard to imagine that anything good can grow from such behavior.

07.15-07.45.  Barta’a – Reihan checkpoint.

We arrived early. In the upper car-park there are not yet groups waiting for their transport, and the parking lot itself is not yet full. When we descended the sleeve towards the terminal we met the first groups beginning to climb up, and from now on the stream of those coming out continued. In the terminal four windows were open and we did not see queues. We measured 12 minutes for one women to pass, and we received no comments about the time for people to come out. Apparently all moved smoothly.

Two people approached us for help in connection with refused entry, and we gave them “Sylvia’s paper.”