'Anin, Mevo Dotan (Imriha), Reihan, Shaked, Thu 16.9.10, Morning
Translation: Bracha B.A.
06:05 – A'anin Checkpoint
Three Bedouin children and their mother who live in the Bedouin village below the checkpoint are waiting for their ride to school in Um a-Reihan. Later more children arrive. Only about 20 people crossed from A'anin to their land in the seamline zone. The olive harvest is about to begin and there are still no permits. One farmer reports that the Liaison and Coordination Administration told him there will be permits on 10/10/10 – a special date.
At 06:50 The people have all crossed. We saw only one person who was not allowed to cross.
07:00 Shaked-Tura Checkpoint
The soldiers march up to the checkpoint and they are a bit late. A car is waiting, with three passengers going to school in the seamline zone. The little girls are adorable and their presence at the checkpoint is ironic. The children are waiting within the area of the checkpoint for their names and schoolbags to be checked. A few pedestrians are waiting next to the turnstile at the entry from the West Bank. A, a representative from the Liaison and Coordination Administration arrives and reports that the olive harvest will begin on October first and by the 10th all the permits will be issued.
One of the drivers says that he was present at the scene of the terrible accident in which in which three children from the settlement of Mevo Dotan and a tractor driver from Zibda were killed on the road between Um El Reihan and the Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint.
07:35 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint
Four cars and four trucks coming from the West Bank to the seamline zone are waiting to be checked. One of the drivers says they will be let in at 08:00. He also mentioned the accident.
07:50 – Dotan Checkpoint
A few cars drive by in both directions. A soldier stands with his weapon cocked and ready but eventually shifts to a more relaxed position. Cars are checked at random and the criteria for which ones are checked are not clear.
08:05
On our way back to Reihan Checkpoint we saw a lot of cars parked in front of the locked gate to the bridge leading to Tulkarem. A., the driver, said they were there because Hermesh Checkpoint is closed in the morning. The trucks have already gone in to be checked.