Reihan, Shaked, Wed 27.1.10, Morning

Date: 27/01/2010 ,Morning

Observers: Nava R.

Reihan

Reihan (Bartaa) Checkpoint allows transit only to vehicles and pedestrians holding transit permits appropriate to the place. The checkpoint is located on the separation fence, east of East Bartaa, and is supposed to supply continuation of the "fabric of life" to the Palestinian residents living in the "Seam Zone," who have been physically cut off from the West Bank by the that fence. Since 16 May 2007, it has been maintained by a civilian security company subcontracting to the Defense Ministry.
Functioning on the site is a large and sophisticated terminal, which includes biometric facilities for identification of the palm of the hand, and small examination rooms to which men and women are taken by random selection. Agricultural produce and other goods may be transferred through here from the West Bank to the Seam Zone enclave in limited quantities, by a group of regular drivers and in prior coordination with the DCO and the army.
Since the checkpoint passed into civilian hands, the Mevo Reihan CP (near Umriha village) has been used as a checking point for Palestinians on their way to the Reihan checkpoint.

Close description

07:10 - 08;30 Shaked-Tura checkpoint
12 people and two cars waited on the other side of the fence to cross over to the Seamline zone.

Three cars and a few people crossed into the West Bank.

Inspection is extremely slow despite the few people going through. I've met at the checkpoint a young man, a resident of Daher-el-Malec in the SeamLine zone who got a job in the carpets factory at the Sha"hak industrial zone, also at located in the SeamLine zone. This person is unable to work because he is denied by the police and at the carpets plant they are not willing to employ him unless the police denial is lifted. all this is despite the fact that he needs not to cross any checkpoint on his way to work.

The police refusal is a result of an occurance at the checkpoint. According to the young man, he was to bring over, with the DCO permission, 2 empty containers of cooking gas. for home use, which he was supposed to fill up at Ya'abed. There is no delivery of gas to Daher-el-Malec. He was detained at the checkpoint for an hour and a half and when he ran out of time, he made a U-turn and hurry home. Based on that violation he was arrested, broght to trial and was fined with 1,500 Nis and for five years of police (?) denial. That is the reason why he can not go to work located 5 minutes away from his home.

08:40 -09:50 Rihan-Barta'a checkpoint.
A checkpoint routine. Merchants from Barta'a had arrived and gone through into the SeamLine zone.
Only a few crtossed over to the West Bank.
Trucks went into inspection prior to my arrival and has'nt come out before I left.