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 13.1.10, Morning

Date: 13/01/2010 ,Morning

Observers: Hedva H., 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

Translation: Bracha B.A.

09:00 Shaked-Tura Checkpoint
Students are coming back from school crossing from the West Bank to the seamline zone.An elderly couple from Ein Sahla (in Israel) arrive at the checkpoint with a two-and-a-half-year-old child. They give the child to his father on the Palestinian side. The child’s parents live in the West Bank and the mother’s parents are in Israel and the child, whose mother is an Israeli citizen, received a vaccination. Aadel, the commander of the Liaison and Coordination Administration at Salem, was at the checkpoint and we asked him why the grandparents had to take the child for medical treatment. Aadel said that the father is a Palestinian but the mother can cross into Israel.

10:30 Reihan-Barta’a Checkpoint
There are six trucks waiting to be checked. People are crossing to Barta’a in the seamline zone. It takes 5-10 minutes for them to get through. Drivers in the Palestinian parking lot tell us what happened yesterday with our friend A. the driver (see this report from yesterday.) They also said that he was forced to undress next to the vehicle checkpoint.