North 20.07.2022 Morning7.45 – 6.00

On our way to the checkpoint we saw that there were still tents alongside the security road where soldiers were guarding to ensure that people would not cut new holes in the security fence.

Barta’a Checkpoint 06:00 – The upper parking lot on the seamline zone side and the roads leading to it were filled with vehicles that were picking up workers to bring them to work.   Hundreds of workers were walking up the long sleeve, and the younger people were jumping over the fence.   The number of workers who are crossing here since the holes in the fence have been eliminated is noticeable.    The garbage containers were filled with bags and paper cups from coffee and sandwiches that people had bought at the kiosk.

A resident of the West Bank told us that 20 years ago his brother was fined by the Israeli police and Attorney Michael Garbeieh took charge of the case.  His pay was supposed to have included the fine, but he had never received a receipt, but continues to receive demands to pay the fine with added interest.     We referred him to a representative of the police at the Salem District Coordination and Liaison Office  but the incident presents a problem: How is a resident of the West Bank who needs to arrange payment through an Israeli attorney  follow up after his work with the Ministry of Transportation if he is physically unable to meet with him?

A’anin Agricultural Checkpoint 06:35 = The checkpoint was still closed and people wishing to cross were waiting next to the gate on the West bank side.   An Israeli police car drove from the security road to the access road to the checkpoint and stopped next to Pierre’s car that was parked far from the checkpoint and the policeman began to question him.    Among other things they asked him how much he was being paid for the trip.    At 06:50 the checkpoint opened and 4 tractors and 110 people crossed.   Most were going to work and greeted us with “Good morning” in different languages.    People were checked quickly next to the center gate.  Eventually about 10 people were left to clarify things.   The mother of a family with parents and two children  over age 10 was forced to return to the village because her permit did not state at which checkpoint she was allowed to cross. A resident of A’anin who is married to a woman from Um Al Fahem was also not allowed to cross despite the fact that he has a permit to cross into Israel with his children aged one year and three.   The woman soldier claimed that they could cross only at Barta’a Checkpoint  because here people can only cross to go to work.   The other children had been allowed to cross because they were older and could work according to the army’s “logic”.  They were allowed to cross this time.

Tura Checkpoint 07:30 – Workers were still crossing from the West Bank to the seamline zone and the crossing was without delay.  Cars were also crossing in both directions.  We saw that attempts had been made to cut holes in the fence but they were immediately repaired.

On Route 66 on the way home to Haifa police were checkpoint workers’ permits at the Yogev Junction..