Reihan, Shaked, Sun 20.2.11, Morning

Translation: Bracha B.A.

Reihan Checkpoint – 06:00

Cars are waiting for passengers who have not yet emerged from the terminal.  Checks are being conducted at a reasonable rate. 

People tell us that on Thursday things went well.  Cars going from the seamline zone to the West Bank pass through quickly, and drivers only have to run their magnetic card through a machine.   By 06:35 most of the workers have already passed through and have gone to work. 

06:55 – Shaked Checkpoint

The gates open and schoolchildren and students are waiting underneath the shed.  Just before 07:00 they crowd next to the gate and everyone enters at once. Schoolchildren do not enter the inspection room; only their bags are checked.   Cars cross to the West Bank in 5-6 minutes.  Only a few people cross from the West Bank – either because of the rain or because people have no permits.  A few cars pass through.  A resident of Dar al Malk says that people are held up at the entrance to the inspection room during the day.  They think that soldiers are busy watching movies on the computer and are not taking the time to deal with them.  They also report that vehicle crossing from the West Bank to the seamline zone is difficult, perhaps due to the winter weather.