Reihan, Shaked, Sat 16.4.11, Morning

Translation: Bracha B.A.

07:20 Reihan Checkpoint

One window is open and the hallways are empty.  Evidently everything is going smoothly. 

At 07:30 we observed a long waiting line in the sleeve in front of the entrance to the terminal, and it is not clear why.

At 07:35 people coming out of the terminal reported that it was crowded inside, and a uniformed staff member said he would check to see why.

At 07:50 the line starts to break up and people begin to come out. There is a lot of congestion inside and noise, people shouting and doors slamming.  The window closest to the turnstile is operating and it is crowded in the hallway.  People complain about the long wait inside and the one staff member there is talking on the phone.  

The worker is replaced by another who starts yelling at people, in Hebrew, to get back.  A line forms and she shouts to the other worker not to let anyone else inside.  The orders come from the balcony where the security workers are located, and people respond angrily.  We followed the progress of one woman and it took her 40 minutes to get through – from 07:30 to 08:10. 

08:10- The hallway was finally empty. 

08:15– There are a lot of people inside again.

08:25– The terminal is empty.  People say that it took them a half hour to get through.

We left at 08:35.  7 vans are waiting to be checked.  The bathrooms at the top of the checkpoint are clean, but those at the bottom are dirty, and there is no room in the parking lot.

09:00 – 09:15 – Dotan Checkpoint

There are four reservists (one in the tower and three below.  Their helmets are on the fence and no cars are being checked. 

09:30 – 09:45 – Shaked-Tura Checkpoint

Photo: A discussion before receiving permission to cross. 

Farmers are planting tobacco.  There is little traffic and vehicles are checked slowly and inefficiently.  The soldiers explain the inspection procedure to one of the drivers.  There is a D9 tractor parked at the army base near the checkpoint.  There are no flags on the settlers' roads – there is no evidence of the holiday yet.    

We took our guest to see the A'anin Checkpoint and a soldier shouted at us not to come there anymore and that it was a military zone.  We left since the checkpoint was not operating on Saturday anyway.