Barta'a-Reihan, Jalama, Tura-Shaked

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Observers: 
Vera Moskovitch, Neta Golan (reporting); Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham
Oct-7-2014
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Afternoon

 

14:30 – Jalama – Gilboa Checkpoint

We were told that because of the holiday (Eid al Adha) the checkpoint was open from 05:00 to midnight.   There was a long line of vehicles with Israeli license plates moving in both directions at the vehicle checkpoint.  Israeli Arabs were traveling to the West Bank to visit and returning.   The terminal was open and people in holiday dress as well as workers were crossing in both directions.   We were told that today was not really a holiday any more and that the real festival lasted for three days (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday).  A security guard sent us away from the entrance to the terminal.   Shai, the director, then allowed us back again on the condition that we not take pictures.

 

15:50 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint

There is very little traffic at this checkpoint today.  We saw people harvesting olives in the grove near the checkpoint.

 

16:20 – Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint (Palestinian Side)

The parking lot is filled, but not crowded.  Drivers are waiting for holiday passengers, but there are not a lot at this time of day.  Here, too, there is a mixture of families in holiday clothing and men in work clothes.  Again people tell us that today is not really a holiday.  Hadi's corner has not reopened and the prayer corner has not returned to its place under the shed.  The additional turnstile at the entrance from the parking lot to the terminal is old.  Again people talk about the crowded conditions at Irtah (Sha'ar Ephraim) checkpoint in the morning.   People were injured and even killed there – sacrifices on the altar of the checkpoints.

 

17:00 – We returned through Barta'a.  Here it is also "half holiday" – some of the stores and garages are open and some are closed.  The shops in the center of town are open and displaying their colorful merchandise.