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Reihan, Wed 30.7.08, Morning

Observers: Hedva H., Nava R.
Jul-30-2008
| Morning
Translation: Y. Bassis-Student

1030-Rihan (Barta'a)checkpoint
Upper level: One person enters the terminal at this time, on his way to the West Bank.
6 vans await passengers going into the Seam Line zone.
A family on its way to the Seam Line zone sits on the bench and waits (for more than 20 minutes) for the head of the family and his car to go through inspection at the vehicle's post.

Lower level
– 2 trucks loaded with food wait for about half an hour to be called for inspection.
Drivers say that today is a good day and waiting time is not too long.
All 17 drivers sit or lie down in the shade waiting for a miracle (passengers) and livelihood.

At this time the number of drivers is by far larger than that of passengers seeking their services.

There is a note on the gate, announcing that on Thursday the checkpoint would close at 5:00 pm, no reason given.

12:00 – We leave.
  • 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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