Reihan, Shaked, Sun 1.7.12, Morning
Translation: Bracha B.A.
Shaked-Tura Checkpoint07:00
An army vehicle drops soldiers off and the gate and pedestrian crossing open. A reservist says that people have to serve the country. There is already a long line on the West Bank Side. A worker who just completed his inspection and is crossing to the seamline zone complains that inspections do not begin exactly at 07:00. Cars belonging to contractors are already waiting, and other cars arrive from the seamline zone. A herd of goats crosses the checkpoint.
We left at 07:30.
07:40 – Reihan Barta'a Checkpoint
On our way to the lower checkpoint we were stopped and a phone call was made to get permission for us to pass. Two trucks are waiting for their cargo to be checked. They are going from the West Bank to Barta'a. The parking lot is not full, but there is pedestrian traffic going in both directions. The little snack bar has turned into a coffee house with chairs and a table. A military vehicle arrives and the inner gate opens for it, while the pedestrian gates
are closed. Everything is automatic. There are only a few drivers waiting for passengers today.
08:00– We drive up to the upper parking lot to meet a father and his son whom we will drive to Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The father explains that they are from A'anin, and since the checkpoint is closed there they had to take a taxi to the Reihan Checkpoint despite the fact that Shaked Checkpoint is closer. There was a rolling checkpoint near Yaabed where their taxi was held up for a half hour. Consequently, their trip from A'anin to Reihan (which should have taken ten minutes) took a full hour and a half.
We left at 08:15.