Jalama, Reihan, Tue 3.2.09, Morning
Translated by L.W
06:00 Reihan Checkpoint Few workers passing the checkpoint. The seamstresses pass without delay. Six pick ups already waiting for cargo inspection. At the terminal exit we are told “today is good,” transit is quick. A young man asks for our help: he needs a permit to stay in Israel (he has an entry permit to the Seam Zone): he is married to an Israeli Arab and they have a son. His wife and son live in Nazareth and he is not permitted to join them, and lives in Yaabed. In the light of the policy negating family reunion, the chances are slim to zero and our help won’t be of use here.
07:30 Jalame Checkpoint We were asked to take a baby for dialysis in Rambam Hospital . When we arrived, the mother and baby were not yet there. After telephone clarification with the coordinator at Rambam, he said that they are waiting in the terminal, and have a long wait. He asked our help in speeding up their exit. They agreed to let us in the terminal and Hassida asked the security guard to let them out before the rest. And, after quarter of an hour, the mother and baby came out accompanied by an aunt of the baby. At 09:00 we arrived at Meir Children’s Hospital, next to Rambam.
At the checkpoint we heard many complaints about slowness and thoroughness of the checks in the terminal (between 1-3 hours). Outside, two buses were waiting to take families of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli prisons. A Red Cross representative was supervising the exit of the families. Two police vehicles were parked in the lot.
Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
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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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Jalama
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North of Jenin, on the Green Line between Israel and the West Bank. A big terminal for the passage of Palestinians with permits allowing entrance into Israel and goods into Israel operates there. In the course of 2009 the terminal was opened for the passage of Israeli Arabic citizens into the West Bank. Since October 2009 they may pass in their cars.
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