Reihan, Sat 21.6.08, Morning
Shaked CP 0700 – 0730
There is lively traffic in both directions – pedestrians, cars and a herd of goats. Those going through tell us about the especially meticulous inspection today; new soldiers and new lists. But all told, the passage is quick – about 10 minutes – and there are no long queues.
Reihan CP 0740 – 0850
The CP is very crowded in all directions. There are many pedestrians and cars. Those leaving for the seamline zone tell us that the CO opened this morning at 07:15 instead of at 07:00, and there are people who have been waiting since 06:00 and even earlier. There are delays of about an hour or two, and even more.
Conditions today were unreasonable by comparison with other Saturdays and insufferable in light of the extreme heat. In the upper parking lot, two lavatory cells are open; they are fairly clean.
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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