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Reihan, Wed 15.10.08, Morning

Observers: Nava
Oct-15-2008
| Morning
Translation; Yael Bassis-Student
09:45 – Rihan checkpoint –
Two private cars are under inspection on the side of the Seam Line zone . With in ten minutes they are on their way to the West Bank.
At the Palestinian car park area 12 (!) loaded pickup trucks are awaiting inspection. With in ten minutes four of which drove inside for inspection that took an hour and a half.
During the inspection a drill took place, the checkpoint had closed, inspectors, security guards as well as Palestinians were ordered to get away.
While the above is taking place, four more pickup trucks arrived at site and again there are 12 vehicles in line.
One of the drivers complains that on Sunday he had to wait from 07:00 am to 7:00 pm for his vehicle's inspection.
During my shift, when the checkpoint closed down , the gate of the terminal on the side going from the West bank to the Seam line zone, closed down as well.
The female inspector at the booth by the gate said that the closure would be for two minutes while in fact it was closed for half an hour.

11:45
– I leave the checkpoint.
The 12 pickup trucks are still waiting.
  • 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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