Since 2001 we have observed dozens of army checkpoints on paved and unpaved roads in the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and along the Separation Fence; Civil Administration offices which grant permits to Palestinians; and military courts trying Palestinian prisoners. We stand at the checkpoints observing the behavior of soldiers and Palestinians without interfering, intervening only when soldiers behave offensively to Palestinians. Then we try to speak to the soldiers themselves or telephone...

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Reihan, Shaked, Wed 28.10.09, Morning

Date: 28/10/2009 ,Morning

Observers: Vivian SB, Nava R (reporting)

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

07:30 Shaked Checkpoint
On the Palestinian side more than 40 men and four cars are waiting. From the Seam Zone individual schoolchildren come from time to time.
People complained that the check in the hut is slow. They said there should be differentiation between "the regulars" who cross the checkpoint every day, and those who only cross in olive picking season, whose examination is longer because they are not known.
The school principal of East Bartaa (in the Seam Zone), who lives in the West Bank, has replaced his car. They don’t let him through in his new car. They send him from DCO Salem to some other place then back to DCO Salem, and he doesn’t succeed in getting a transit permit for the car.

08:45 – all have passed and we leave.

08:55 Reihan Checkpoint
No trucks with cargo waiting, nor any cars. The parking lot is full of cars of Palestinians crossing into the Seam Zone, to Bartaa or Israel. Only two improvised taxis waiting for passengers. Since they have allowed Palestinians to cross at Dotan with their cars, the taxi drivers have had no business.
No problems were noticable beyond the terminal to the Seam Zone, but those crossing to the West Bank had to wait in the terminal about quarter of an hour because of the pressure of people passing in the opposite direction, mostly to East Bartaa.

09:45 – we left the checkpoint.