'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
'Id el Adha
Lea got information in advance from the DCO about the hours during which the CPs are open, considering that there is still a holiday. She was told that the A'anin CP would be open between 06:00 and 06:30, Tura-Shaked would open as usual at 07:00 and would remain open for two hours, and the Barta'a CP would be in operation during the regular hours, that is to say, the whole day.
06:15
On the road approaching the CP we already see a number of people who have gone through. When we asked about this they reported that the CP opened at06:00 and that they are letting people go through without any problems.
Later we were told that some of the people were not allowed to go through because they have permits for the 13/10, the date of the beginning of the olive-picking in this region, and those permits cancelled the existing permits that are still valid. It is also claimed that the permits are valid only for a month and they will not be good enough until the end of the olive-picking.
At 06:30 on the dot they close the gates
even though we were told that there were still people with old permits waiting at the lower gate.
06:45 We arrive at the Tura-Shaked CP
No Palestinians are waiting here either on the Palestinian side or on the side of the seamline zone. The soldiers arrive as usual at 07:05 and the first Palestinian goes through very quickly from the Palestinian side. The CP is operating as usual, buy there are only a few workers.
07:15 - Three Palestinians come out and we are told that the industrial zone is open but the Palestinian workers have a holiday. We did not see a single car go through the CP.
We left the CP.
07:30 Barta'a-Reihan CP but there are no workers. The parking lots are empty. We have to wait until 08:00 in order to meet the boy Ali and his father in order to take them to the Rambam Hospital in Haifa.
We take advantage of the time to explain about the CP to Kyu, our guest, and to show her the seamline zone, etc. on the map.
We talk to two security guards who approach us and ask why after all we come to this CP, which, in their opinion functions well. They know that during rush hour, it is very crowded, but in their opinion they do the best they can and let workers through as fast as possible.
07:55 Ali and his father arrive and go through to Lea's car which is waiting for them at the entrance to the CP compound on the Palestinian side.
They go through very fast and we set out.