Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

I

6:10 - Barta'a-Reihan

There is still much empty space in the parking lot on the side of the West Bank. Workers enter without delay. We meet our friend B. from the carpet factory at the entrance to the terminal at 06:19 and again, after 11 minutes, at the upper exit. Three windows are open at the end of the lanes in the terminal. People are not complaining this morning and even pause at the diner, which is owned by the settler from Hermesh. The man selling coffee at the end of the sleeve complains that, lately, the person in charge of the checkpoint has prevented him from selling cigarettes. We observe how the open garbage truck with two trailers is being checked with the help of a dog.

At 06:45 a group of truck- and van drivers walk up to the first check post.

6:55 – Tura-Shaked

Together with some soldiers, we arrive at the checkpoint which opens on time this morning. It's cold and rainy. A high-school pupil has arrived on the highway even before the soldiers arrive. (The gates on the side of the seamline zone are open all the time.) He tells us that he was once detained for having crossed there but that now there are no problems. The children from Dar-al-Malach arrive equipped with umbrellas. They cross the checkpoint quickly and show up again on the other side of the fence in the heavy fog. Workers are waiting for their transportation. A student on his way to Jenin arrives. A school principal greets us and goes through the regular procedure.