'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Thu 3.5.12, Afternoon
Translation: Bracha B-A.
15:30 – A'anin Checkpoint
We were held up on the way and only reached the checkpoint as it was closing. An officer, soldiers, and reservists asked us what we were doing and thought we had lost our way. The officer said that about 30 people had crossed the checkpoint and that "everyone was happy".
15:45– We passed Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint on our way to Dotan Checkpoint. The parking lot on the Palestinian side as well as the temporary parking lot on the road are both completely full. Cars are also parked along the "blocked bridge." An army jeep is parked next to the pillbox between Emricha and the Dotan checkpoint. The checkpoint itself is not operating. On our way back we saw the jeep was still parked in the same place.
16:10 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint – Seamline Zone Side
Workers returning from work in Israel are descending the sleeve
, which is now covered with a roof. Many are carrying trays of strawberries. For reasons that are not clear to us the staff is locking the turnstile after each small group of workers goes through. Two windows are operating, but one of them is only taking care of women returning to the seamline zone from the West Bank. A worker from Arabeh, in the area of Jenin, who works in Ramat Hasharon (in Israel) complains that in the morning he has to cross at Irtah Checkpoint, which is extremely crowded. He explains that there are a lot of inspection rooms there, but only two are open and crossing is slow.
16:50 – Shaked-Tura Checkpoint
Construction work is still underway at the checkpoint. Almost no one crosses at this hour. An elderly shepherd and his flock of goats cross to the West Bank.