07:00 – Deir al Ghusun Checkpoint, Seamline Zone Side

The soldiers who are due to arrive from Atil Checkpoint did not yet arrive, and a lot of people and tractors were waiting on the other side of the fence.  At 07:05 an armored car and jeep carrying sic soldiers (two women and four men) arrived.  The armored car left and the jeep remained.  A female soldier opened the gate to the seamline zone, but the lock on the gate to Palestine was stuck and the soldiers attempted to open it.  At 07:15 the soldiers succeeded in opening the gate and the first people quickly began to come out.  Two women crossed first, followed by many young men and tractors that serve as “taxis” for workers.   

People were checked quickly and we didn’t see anyone who was sent back.  By 07:40 about 250 workers and seven tractors had crossed.

One of the tractors was carrying irrigation pipes and guava saplings.  We were told that people are mainly pruning and maintaining the 2000 dunams (500 acres) of olives groves in the area of the seamline zone.

H. told us that there is a good municipality in Dir El Ruson that is concerned for the farmers.   Most of the people cross without any problem.  By 08:00 all the Palestinians had crossed, and the soldiers closed the gate.

We drove to the hothouses belonging to our friends in Atil to see how they were doing.  Rata was very worried, but hopes that on Tuesday, when they are supposed to come, things will be worked out.   This is what David, the officer in charge of permits told them to do.   H.’s permit and those of the other farmers who work with him will expire on Thursday, and after that his wife and one of his sons will be the only ones who remain holding permits.   He showed us the hothouse where he planted cucumbers and the new plants need to be watered and cared for.

We left at 08:40.