Barta'a-Reihan
05:50 Barta’a – Reihan checkpoint.
Many workers are waiting for transportation on the roadside and in the parking lot, on the seamline zone side. On the Palestinian side there are still vacant parking spots. The checkpoint’s horizontal bar, at the entrance to the parking lot, which is operated by the Palestinian security company, rises and falls now and then. In front of the turnstile there is a very short queue. As previously reported, the shed, which mostly served the drivers, has been removed. A large area, including the turnstile that served those returning to the West Bank and the women on their way to work in Barta’a, has been fenced and readied for development,. The single turnstile stops without warning for a solitary worker returning to the West Bank, and we noticed another worker whose forehead has been injured in a similar situation. Meanwhile, there is no shade in the whole area, and the drivers’ attempt to improvise cover was prevented by the authorities here. The drivers beg for a little shade. We promised to try to help.
At about 06:30 a queue formed, but the flow of people entering was unhindered.
06:50 Y’abed – Mevo Dotan checkpoint.
This is Marina’s second watch and, in order to familiarize her with ‘our’ district, we travelled through the Dotan Valey, and also to Y’abed checkpoint, although it has not been manned for a long time. The passage is staggered and drivers have to look out for oncoming traffic, but in general the traffic moves freely.
07:15 Tura – Shaked checkpoint.
Here it is calm. People tell us, “today everything is good.” Two military policewomen take a polite interest in us. Although they have been serving in this region some months, they still had not made acquaintance with MachsomWatch. Everyone arriving is immediately picked up by a waiting driver.
07:30 – two people were waiting at the turnstile. At 07:45 we entered the quiet village of Dhar al Malekh, and did not meet anyone who could tell us if the electrical connection has arrived as promised.
Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
See all reports for this place-
This checkpoint is located on the Separation Fence route, east of the Palestinian town of East Barta’a. The latter is the largest Palestinian community inside the seam-line zone (Barta’a Enclave) in the northern West Bank. Western Barta’a, inside Israel, is adjacent to it. The Checkpoint is open all week from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Since mid-May 2007, the checkpoint has been managed by a civilian security company subordinate to the Ministry of Defense. People permitted to cross through this checkpoint into and from the West Bank are residents of Palestinian communities inside the Barta’a Enclave as well as West Bank Palestinian residents holding transit permit. Jewish settlers from Hermesh and Mevo Dotan cross here without inspection. A large, modern terminal is active here with 8 windows for document inspection and biometric tests (eyes and fingerprints). Usually only one or two of the 8 windows are in operation. Goods, up to medium commercial size, may pass here from the West Bank into the Barta’a Enclave. A permanent registered group of drives who have been approved by the may pass with farm produce. When the administration of the checkpoint was turned over to a civilian security firm, the Ya’abad-Mevo Dotan Junction became a permanent checkpoint. . It is manned by soldiers who sit in the watchtower and come down at random to inspect vehicles and passengers (February 2020).
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