Mevo Dotan (Imriha), Reihan, Shaked, Sun 16.5.10, Morning

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Hedva H, Ruthi T., (Reporting)
16/05/2010
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בוקר

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Shaked-Tura, 09:30
A man is waiting next to the turnstile and two women, a man, and two tractors are crossing to the West Bank.  One of the tractors is driven by Muchtaram, who is allegedly carrying bags of green tobacco leaves. He drives up to the inspection point when it becomes free and the soldier signals him that he should have waited for him to signal him to come. The sacks are checked with the X-ray machine and cars pass through after 3 or 4 minutes, including the time it takes for drivers to be checked.

At 09:57 three women arrive in a transit and at 10:02 the soldiers close the far gate and open it again for the women who emerge from the inspection booth.

At 01:09 the soldiers prepare to leave the checkpoint.

10:15 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint
Palestinian parking lot is full and seven trucks wait for inspection on the road rather than in the parking lot as usual, perhaps to give the merchants a place to park their cars. We try to verify the claim that no truck have been checked yet.  A security guard assures us that the third wave of tenders is already inside the inspection facility since 06:00 that morning.  Every round of inspections takes about an hour and a half.

At 10:39  a small truck carrying sheep and a van and private car enter to be inspected. Two private cars drive up to the inspection booth.  A loud argument breaks out between two truck drivers.  Suddenly a woman's voice calls out over the loudspeakers, "Suspicious object, suspicious object."  The electronic gate begins to close and a voice announces, "The exercise is over."  A security guard smiles at us.  "It's hot, it's hot."

We drive to the Dotan checkpoint to check a claim that drivers had made that they were not allowed to bring eggs to the Barta'a Checkpoint.  We were told by the soldiers that there had been an order because of fear of outbreak of avian flu, but the order was revoked.

11:15 – Reihan Barta'a

There is only one truck on the road loaded with furniture. Five well-dressed men emerge from sleeveinfo-icon towards us.  They have come from Tul Karem.  There are three men sitting on the bench inside the terminal and they are joined by another four.  A woman, man, and three children go through within three minutes after a phone call is made.   Someone is arguing with the clerk in the booth.  He is noted for not having returned through the checkpoint yesterday.  "You want to talk to Sharon, the checkpoint manager?  Stand over there on the side."   Someone else comes out after ten minutes.