'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Ya'bed-Dotan

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Observers: 
Tzafrira Zamir, Zoe, Neta Golan (reporting) Trtanslation: Bracha Ben-Avraham
Dec-25-2014
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Afternoon

14:50 – A'anin Checkpoint

Ten people and two tractors are already waiting.  The soldiers arrive and open the checkpoint at 14:55.   Everyone who was waiting crosses immediately.  The checkpoint commander, a major, is now free to talk with us.  The major, a member of a kibbutz, was in the town of Yeruham where several of our members came to talk to kibbutz and moshav members.   He had been there to persuade them to join the Nahal branch of the army and to become officers.   He also felt that young Zoe should join the army and serve at the checkpoints as a military policewoman.  We feel differently.    Another farmer arrives and crosses the checkpoint.    

 

15:30 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint

As usual, there is very little pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

 

15:50 – Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint

There is a strange sight – no one is descending the sleeveinfo-icon to the terminal.  There are a lot of people standing in front of the vehicle checkpoint on their way to the West Bank.  The security guard opens the checkpoint and urges us to drive through quickly on our way to Yaabed - Dotan Checkpoint.   Apparently there is an exercise taking place in the terminal.   People present their palms for inspection at the inspection point at the vehicle checkpoint.   They cross quickly.

 

The Palestinian parking lot and the auxiliary parking lot are full as usual.  Many vehicles are parked along the road as well as along the sides of the closed bridge.  The iron gate on the road from Emricha to Yaabed is locked as usual.  A military jeep is parked next to the pillbox.

 

16:00 – Yaabed Dotan Checkpoint

We park and see a car pass through the checkpoint going west.  Two soldiers are running after it and call for the driver to stop and to come back to the checkpoint.    They order him to wait at the checkpoint and we don't know why.  Many cars arrive from both directions.    Those going towards Yaabed and Jenin are not stopped and pass through quickly, but a long line forms of those going the other way.   Occasionally those going east are allowed to drive along the side of the road and the crossing westward is somewhat faster.  People arriving from Barta'a Checkpoint report that crossing took place quickly.     

 

At 16:40 we drive back to Barta'a Checkpoint.  The driver who was detained has not yet been released.  There is a line of cars waiting to drive west despite the fact that none are being checked. 

 

16:50 – The exercise in the terminal is still taking place and pedestrians are crossing quickly through the vehicle checkpoint.  Perhaps the terminal is not necessary. 

 

We drive back through Barta'a.  The main street looks like a colorful fair.   It is difficult to remember, understand, and to explain to Zoe that there are actually two villages here: one formerly Palestinian/Jordanian and the other Israeli, and two types of citizens here both Palestinians, but some who are Palestinian Palestinians and the others who are Israeli Palestinians.    Some women will have to cross a checkpoint to give birth in Jenin, while another will be able to go to the hospital in the Israeli town of Hadera to give birth.