Reihan, Wed 30.1.08, Afternoon
Translation: Devorah K.
When we approached the vehicle CP, the person from the security company, who was in charge, called out to us from the other side of the road. He volunteered to explain what was happening. It seems that for several days, the CP and the terminal have been undergoing refurbishing, apparently as part of the installment of a new computer system. What won't they do in order to make the occupation more efficient?! They did not think that the work would continue on such a cold day , but since the workers with their heavy equipment have arrived, the people from the West Bank did not go though the terminal (where the work was going on) but were undergoing the inspection outside. At least here they did not have to undress! Only their pockets were searched .. and whatever else was necessary.
According to the man in charge, before this there were no delays in the terminal except for a few minutes. He also told us that because of the weather, which was making the inspection difficult, only trucks with vital supplies, such as flour, oil, sugar, eggs, but not fruit and vegetables, are allowed to go through. "This is for their benefit, so that they won't have to go through the entire inspection procedure in this cold…"
We leave as soon as possible so as not to freeze!
—– Original Message —–
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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