Reihan, Shaked, Thu 18.2.10, Morning

Date: 18/02/2010 ,Morning

Observers: Shula B., Neta G.

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.

06:05 – A'anin Checkpoint

The gates to the checkpoint are open. Most of the checks take place at the gate close to A'anin, so we cannot see a great deal. After a few minutes the first person passes through and says there are only about 20 people waiting. We saw one person who was not allowed through.

06:30 – Children arrive from the Bedouin village near the checkpoint on the side of the seamline zone. They are waiting for their ride to school in Um a Reihan.

06:40 – A soldier locks the gate. We were told that 25 people had passed through today and that one person was refused entry because he had shown a forged permit.

07:00 – Shaked Tura Checkpoint

On our way to the checkpoint we took a short drive through the small village of Dahar al Malak. We saw an attractive well-kept garden next to one of the houses.

07:05 – Six male soldiers and one woman soldier arrive at the checkpoint late and open the gates. They start to get organized. Four cars and about 15 people are waiting on the West Bank side. The children from the lone house arrive via the security road; the teacher from Um a Reihan who teaches in Yaabed arrives in his car. Students arrive in cars and on foot.

07:35 – We passed by Reihan-Barta'a Checkpoint on our way to the Dotan Checkpoint. We saw three tenders waiting to be checked and another five in the parking lot.
Our friend A., the driver, parks near the bridge, waiting for passengers to drive to the checkpoint. We also saw a few cars parked on both sides of the bridge next to the locked gates.

07:30 Dotan Checkpoint

We passed several unmanned pillboxes and the Bedouin village of Emricha. There is a manned checkpoint on the road to Jenin at the Mevo Dotan junction. Traffic is moving in both directions and the drivers are waiting for a soldier to signal them to pass through the checkpoint. Occasionally there is a waiting line of three or four cars. The cars pass through quickly after a quick document check or no check at all.

07:55 – One disobedient driver drove through without waiting for the soldier's signal. The man and his car had to wait for an hour while the rest of the cars were allowed to pass. After an hour the driver was detained for disciplinary measures but we don't know for how long. We attempted to ask the soldier why but he refused to answer and kept shouting to us that he couldn't hear.

08:20 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint
The parking lot on the Palestinian side is filled with commercial vehicles. The few people who are arriving at this hour go directly into the terminal.
We are again amazed at the endless gardening and landscaping work being done at the checkpoint. It seems a tremendous amount of money and effort is being poured into this place. Why have they added huge concrete blocks that look like dice?

08:40 – We left the checkpoint with the usual feelings of frustration.