ברטעה-ריחן, ג'למה, טורה-שקד

14.10   Jalama- Gilboa Checkpoint

Rachel has collected Amjad, his daughter Mary, and another young man from Rambam hospital.  I joined them on the way, and we took them all to the Jalama checkpoint. Amjad and Mary (in a wheelchair), and her father passed through the vehicle transit lane because it’s impossible to take a wheelchair through the turnstile.  The traffic in the direction of the West Bank was halted to allow the girl and her father to go through.  A Palestinian cleaner told us that his salary is being paid by a manpower contractor who serves all the privatized checkpoints.  A friendly guard updated us that already a year ago the present “White Snow” security company has replaced the “Civilian Intelligence” company. 

We were not allowed to descend through the “sleeve” (an enclosed corridor) because we would be unprotected there.  Beyond the checkpoint one could see that the car-park was full.  A lot of time has been invested in landscaping throughout the checkpoint, including a loquat tree, which was full of fruit.  If only this had been a normal and legitimate frontier between two sovereign nations... 

15.10  Tura-Shaked Checkpoint

It was almost deserted. At 15.20 two women and a girl arrived in a vehicle on their way to the West Bank, and a youth came from that direction.

15.50  Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint

Many workers, both men and women, were returning from work.  All of them were friendly and smiling. They told us that all the inspection windows were working.  Afterwards, we heard a loud argument between truck drivers, one of whom has approached the inspection area too closely. 

Someone is growing wonderful roses here . . . .