'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
15.45 The Anin agricultural checkpoint
In the photograph: the entrance to the checkpoint from the Seam-Line side
16.35 Tura-Shaked CheckpointThe owner of a rickety Subaru brings two passengers from Barta’a. Two cars wait on the road with their backs to the checkpoint. One more car, travelling to the West Bank, and that’s all.
16.45 Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
In the photograph : the “sleeve” – the enclosed corridor leading to and from the checkpoint
An unusual sight in the crossing for cars : six cars are waiting to cross in the direction of the West Bank – a queue! It appears that the owner of the first car - a new cross-country vehicle - has forgotten his ignition code . . . . When the problem is eventually solved the queue quickly disperses.
In the meantime, while we are still going down the ”sleeve” towards the terminal, a car passed us and stops after a few meters. Its driver gets out and approaches us determinedly, on the other side of the safety fence. He is a young guy, with a baby face and blond side-locks, and after he verifies that we are from MachsomWatch he informs us that “we are the most deplorable people”, and “go to the Arabs in Jerusalem”. I’ll spare you my answer to his generous suggestions . . . .
Many laborers are returning from a long day’s work, equipped with small picnic-boxes. Next to the turnstile on the terminal side there is construction to create a drainage channel for rainwater, so we cannot stand close to the entrance and see past it.