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

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Observers: 
Chasida S. and Ruth K. (reporting). Translator Yael Student
Jan-11-2015
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Afternoon

Chasida S. and Ruth K. (reporting). Translator Yael Student

 

Pastoral calm all around.

 

A few Palestinians drive through, at a reasonable pace.

We're approached by  E.A., a resident of Daher-el-Malec, who complains that he is being inspected at this checkpoint every single day while at Barta'a this is not required. His three children were forced to move and live in the West Bank because he is not allowed to build a home on his own land. Also they are not allowed to bring  electrical appliances, such as a washer or a refrigerator, into Israel from the West Bank through this checkpoint,  but rather from the distant Reihan checkpoint. He added that there is no electricity at the village (a fact known to us for quite some time). He mentioned that a soldier at the checkpoint had asked him if he was content. He answered that he was not and asked the soldier if he would have been happy if whenever he left his home he had to cross a checkpoint and wait….. Chassida had told him that members of MachsomWatch are actively trying to connect the village to a power source.

 

16:05 – Ya'abed-Dotan checkpoint

Passage is quick. We are approached by two soldiers who are interested as to who we are and what is it that we do. We try to explain but soon we are joined by a Sergeant who order them to distance themselves from us at once…

 

16:40  Barta'a-Reihan checkpoint

Quite a few workers return from a days' work back to the West Bank. Those who are required to go through the terminal do not proceed. It turns out that the inspection machine is out of order.

We tried talking with the security personnel inside (usually to no avail) Finally one of them said that the malfunction is not at this point but in the entire system.

Chassida checked it with the security officers who said it is being taken care of but could take some time…. Workers appeared angry and banged on the door.

We tried talking with the female security guard at the front post but she didn't even bother turning her head toward us.

 

17:05 We left.