Reihan, Shaked, Mon 13.7.09, Afternoon

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Observers: 
Hanna and Yoheved
Jul-13-2009
|
Afternoon

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Shaked-Tura Checkpoint
The checkpoint is isolated and it’s terribly hot.  5 children are waiting under the shed for their father to return from Jenin.  They have brought a small wagon to help him bring groceries.

Reihan Barta’a 16:30

Workers are returning from work and it is crowded at the entrance to the Reihan checkpoint.  They claim that no one has gone in for the last ten minutes.  There is a delay at the entrance because people are coming out through the same turnstile (we have already spoken of this several times).  We called for them to open another inspection window, which they did, but there are clerks there who are doing nothing.

16:45  Finally people are beginning to go in at a rate of ten people every five minutes, but the line is still growing longer.

We thought that if they were more efficient at the entrance and exit as they were when two workers hoeing weeks at the sides of the sleeveinfo-icon, workers would get home more quickly and not have to stand in the hot sun.  Workers returning from Israel tell us that getting through in the morning at Tibeh is better because the members of Machsom Watch are there early and they feel this helps.  There are a lot of cars waiting in the lower parking lot and it slowly empties out.

We went back up to the upper entrance to the terminal and found 35 people outside.

17:00  Sharon, the checkpoint supervisor, responds to our phone call that we made an hour ago.  He repeats his usual claim that he doe not have to let anyone enter who did not go out through Reihan Checkpoint in the morning.

17:40 There is still a line at the entrance, and the roof does not provide shade from the sun to the west.

From 16:00 to 18:00 there are on average 30 people waiting in line.