'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Thu 9.6.11, Afternoon

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Observers: 
Tzafrira Zamir, Neta Golan (Reporting)
Jun-9-2011
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Afternoon

Translation: Bracha B.A.

 

15:25 – A'anin Checkpoint

We arrived late at the checkpoint after getting caught in a traffic jam coming out of Haifa.  We hurried to the checkpoint to meet a farmer from A'anin who had complained about someone cutting down his olive trees.  Apparently he did not arrive at the checkpoint because he was at another meeting to discuss the same issue somewhere else.   Hopefully the perpetrators will be caught and the farmer compensated.   When we arrived the soldiers were sitting and resting and everyone had already crossed.  One person was checked and crossed the checkpoint.   

15:40 – Shaked-Tura Checkpoint

The soldiers are resting here as well and there is little traffic.  No one is going towards the West Bank and only a few people are going to the seamline zone.  A woman and three children crosses the checkpoint.  All are dressed in holiday clothes and are perhaps going to a wedding in Um-A-Reihan.

16:05 – Reihan-Barta'a Checkpoint, Seamline Zone Side

The wedding season has evidently arrived.  Two girls in holiday dress are playing on the playground equipment next to the parking lot.  Their mothers are waiting on the bench for their car which is still being checked.   A minibus, tender, two cars and a truck with a crane are waiting next to the vehicle inspection facility going in the direction of the West Bank. All except the crane truck are filled with adults and children in festive clothing.   The women are clapping their hands when they see us and share their happiness.  Workers are descending the sleeveinfo-icon into the terminal.  The first ones enter immediately, but in another 15 minutes a line begins to form and the shift changes. 

At 16:35 only one window is open, a line is forming and it is hot and people are tired and angry.  One person who is a resident of A'anin tells us about the olive trees that were cut down.    We call Sharon, the head of the facility, and another window opens and the line moves more quickly.  Occasionally women dressed in holiday clothes cross through and are given the right of way.  A young woman carrying a large bouquet of flowers tells us that they are on the way to a wedding.  .Students are crossing in the opposite direction from the West Bank to the seamline zone. 

17:00 – Two detaineesinfo-icon are still waiting on the bench.  There is no waiting line.  We left the checkpoint.