Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
Translation: Yael Bassis-Student
The DCO had informed us that the A'aneen checkpoint is still open for olive picking. But when we arrived, the place was closed and workers who arrive from the Waddi and the vinyards told us that olive picking is over. (In another call to the DCO they told us that they are not allowed to talk to us!)
6:30 Rihan-Barta'a checkpoint
The concrete blocks are painted and the garden is cultivated. Many workers come out of the terminal and get on vehicles that are waiting for them. Workers tell us that this week passage is unusually slow – they've been staying inside the terminal for 30 minutes. All are required to go through the
X-Ray machine. Only a few go through at a time.
We met people who told us that passage permits which were valid for two more months were taken from residents of A'aneen at the end of the olive picking season. We've also heard of a woman who resides at A'aneen and has received a passage permit for the Barta'a checkpoint only.
7:10 Shaked-Tura checkpoint
The gate is open. Schoolchildren walk through without inspection. Two cars cross to the West Bank but the drivers' inspection process is extremely slow. On the side of the West Bank there are several people waiting to cross. We are told that there is a new female soldier who does the inspection and apparently the computer is out of order (she hand-writes the inspection report).
7:20 People from the West Bank slowly begin crossing to the Seam Line zone. A car with teachers drives through fast, without inspection, to the Seam Line zone as well.