Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
06:10 The new Barta'a checkpoint
We walk through the sleeve
to the exit gate where people go to their daily work. Extremely cold this morning and most people are not dressed warmly enough.
Passage is swift. There are no delays.
Unlike last week, we did not encounter people who were forced to get out only at 07:00.
During our half-hour shift at the site more than 100 people, mostly men, had gone through. Only a few crossed on the opposite side in the direction of the West Bank.
07:10 Tura checkpoint
Soldiers walk up to the checkpoint and join the other soldiers already on site. Only now the checkpoint opens, despite the very cold weather. On the side of the West Bank over 20 people wait, (most of whom are men). Now, when the checkpoint is open, they wait inside by the turnstile, until the inspection cabin opens. The sleeve is open.
Outside there are two vehicles, whose drivers have gone inside for inspection and come back to drive the cars as well for inspection, this prior to their proceeding into the West Bank.
At the watch tower a soldier covers himself with his prayer shawl and prays in view of the people below the tower.
07:20 The first ones come out of the inspection cabin and walk in the direction of the Seal Line zone.
07:30 Students arrive. First the adults and college students, who are then followed by the young school and kindergarten children .
People repeat their request that we help them get the checkpoint to open earlier than 07:00.
We think that first of all it would be good enough to see the checkpoint open on time.
07:40 We left.