'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Mon 6.8.12, Morning

Translation: Bracha B.A.

06:05 – A'anin Agricultural Checkpoint

Dozens of people are standing next to the gate in the center of the checkpoint. They pass by the soldiers one by one and cross without any delay. People are pleased because lately new permits have been issued for periods of three to six months, until the end of the olive harvest (which will start in three months). Many of the people passing through are young men who are pleased to have received permits of their own for the first time in their lives.

A resident of A'anin in the West Bank is married to a woman who lives in eastern Barta'a, which is in the seam zone and the couple has three children. He wishes to join and live with her. He has not been permitted to do so. He has been requesting permission to live in Barta'a for several years and has been refused. Ironically both A'anin and Barta'a are Palestinian towns and any Jewish person wishing to live in the occupied territories can come as he or she pleases and is even enticed to do so.

Shaked-Tura Checkpoint – 07:00

Here, too, people are happy with their meager lot of receiving permits. They wave them proudly – now they are permitted to move from one place to another within their own country. Is the same mind that planned all the stoplights and road signs at the checkpoint responsible for our security as well?

Several vans are waiting on the road. Cartons of eggs are practically cooking in the intense heat underneath the shed. People are crossing quickly from the West Bank to the seamline zone and back again. Yellow taxis leave for Jenin and other cars ply their way to the bridge and back for a 1-shekel fee. Even this is a meager livelihood. At this time there is no crowd net to the iron gate, but cars arrive constantly with groups of people and workers going to |Barta'a. Families are also traveling because it is Ramadan. Two elderly people on crutches are waiting near the vehicle checkpoint on the road waiting for someone to drive them to the top of the checkpoint. They are exempt from going through the terminal because of their disability – a sign that there is some light at the end of the dark tunnel of the occupation.

We left at 08:10.