Northern Checkpoints, Barta’a: Where has all the action gone?
5:55 a.m. Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint (the seamline zone checkpoint)
The change in the reduced number of people crossing here in the morning hours is still visibly considerable. This is the extent to which we have grown accustomed to the morning crowding and chaos over the years. We already notice the change from the upper car park, to which Palestinians from the West Bank come after undergoing permit control inside the terminal. There are less taxis and transport vans, less crowding of people waiting for their rides. Quiet. In short – no action…
Why is there no action? Who took it away?
Barta’a is the largest checkpoint in the northern West Bank. Palestinians and good cross here from the Occupied Territories into the seamline zone. This “zone” was born as the Separation Fence was erected and the barriers came into being, separating it from the ‘green line’ which was Israel’s border until 1967. In fact, this “zone” is an enclave in which Palestinian villages, farmlands belonging to West Bank Palestinians, work places, social and cultural services are simply caged in. The literary-sounding definition “zone” insinuates as it were that any Palestinian who moved into the seamline zone can – with the same breath – continue and leak into Israel unhampered by any additional barrier. When we claim that the checkpoints did not prevent terrorist attacks, for the way into Israel is not really barred against terrorists, Israelis have a hard time agreeing with us. It is apparently more consoling and encouraging to go on believing that the checkpoints are a necessary evil. Meaning – it’s either us or them…
For the past year, the Civil Administration has made serious efforts to catch permit-holders who dared to use them to enter Israel itself. Who expanded. Who invaded large workplaces in Israel such as the new Israeli town of Harish that is being constructed by a multitude of Palestinians, or in the streets of the large Arab (Israeli) city of Umm al Fahm, close to the northern checkpoints, etc. Furthermore, the Civil Administration did not automatically and sweepingly renew the entry permits that used to be issued to Palestinians once every two years. Now, a Palestinian who went to the DCO to try to renew his permit, is interrogated carefully and required to prove where precisely he must be at 6 a.m. inside the seamline zone. If he doesn’t, his permit is rescinded. Consequently, (and according to the head of northern DCO chief in Salem, bragging to our volunteers) the number of people allowed into Barta’a has greatly diminished since the beginning of the current year. Whoever has a work permit inside Israel is sent to cross the official checkpoints into Israel, and in the northern West Bank this is Jalame Checkpoint. In the afternoon they are allowed to return to the West Bank through Barta’a Checkpoint. In the late morning, after the holders of permits to enter Israel have crossed over, other appropriate permit holders may cross too.
The new transit cage, shiny and airy in the Palestinian car park, is not rainwater-proof. When it rains and the wind blows, pedestrians get drenched and the rainwater creates puddles on the floor. We saw it happen this morning.
6:20 a.m. ‘Anin Agricultural Checkpoint : Good morning in Hebrew
When we arrive the soldiers open the checkpoint. A woman-soldier calls out ‘good morning’. The 3 tractors and about 15 pedestrians were allowed through swiftly.
6:50 a.m. Tayibe-Roumaney Agricultural Checkpoint: there’s nothing like women
The same soldiers who let the ‘Aneen people through got here one minute before we did. About 15 pedestrians and one tractor crossed over. The men hurry on, most of them greeting us with ‘good morning’. But the women approach us with a handshake and a smile, greet us ‘good morning’ and make a show of virtual solidarity messages.
'Anin checkpoint (214)
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'Anin checkpoint (214)
'Anin checkpoint is located on the Separation Fence east of the Israeli community Mei Ami and close to the village of Anin in the West Bank. It is opened twice a week, morning and afternoon, on days with shorter light time, for Anin farmers whose olive groves have been separated from the village by the fence it became difficult to cultivate their land. Transit permits are only issued to those who can produce ownership documents for their caged-in land, and sometimes only to the head of the family or his widow, eldest son, and children. Sometimes the inheritors lose their right to tend to the family’s land. The permits are eked out and are re-issued only with difficulty. 55-year-old persons may cross the checkpoint (into Israel) without special permits. During the olive harvest season (about one month around October) the checkpoint is open daily and more transit permits are issued. Names of persons eligible to cross are held in the soldiers’ computers. In July 2007, a sweeping instruction was issued, stating that whoever does not return to the village through this checkpoint in the afternoon will be stripped of his transit permit when he shows up there next time. Since 2019, the checkpoint has not been allways locked with the seam-line zone gate (1 of 3 gates), and the fence around it has been broken in several sites.
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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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Tayba-Rummana
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Tayba-Rummana is an agricultural checkpoint. It is located in the separation fence in front of the eastern slopes of the Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm. The Palestinian villages next to the checkpoint are Khirbet Tayba and Rummana. Dozens of dunams of olive groves were removed from their owners, the residents of these villages on the western side of the separation fence. The Palestinian villages next to the checkpoint are Khirbet Tayba and Rumna. Dozens of olives dunams were removed from these villages' residents and swallowed up in a narrow strip of space, on the western side of the separation fence. The checkpoint allows the plantation owners who have permits to pass. Twice a week, the checkpoint opens for fifteen minutes in the morning and evening. During the harvest season, it opens every day for fifteen minutes in the morning (around 0630) and fifteen minutes in the afternoon (around 1530). (February 2020).
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