'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tayba-Rummana, Tura-Shaked

In the lower parking lot dozens of Palestinians continue to crowd the entrance to the terminal.  They’re admitted in groups of 50.  Every few minutes the revolving gate stops to control the rate of people going through the terminal, and then it reopens.

A young man approaches for advice.  He has two brothers.  The crossing permit of one wasn’t renewed.  The Salam DCL told them the problem was with the Shabak.  We all wondered whether the brother was being pressed to collaborate.  We gave him Sylvia’s phone number.

06:35  A’anin, agricultural checkpoint 214

Soldiers inspect residents of A’anin crossing to the seam zone near the middle of the checkpoint.  Those who got past the soldiers go over to the DCL representative’s white Toyota for brief questioning.  One young man was sent back; the others passed and exited the checkpoint.  Y. says 180 agricultural permits have recently been granted, for six months; perhaps they’re already getting ready for the olive harvest which begins in a month or two.

07:10  Tura/Shaked, fabric of life checkpoint 300

This checkpoint serves a relatively small group of Palestinians on both sides of the separation fence.  There are not many people here when it opens in the morning, but not because they don’t want to go through.  On the contrary, all of them would like to cross to the Palestinian villages trapped in the seam zone and to the fields, and simply to move around, but the Occupier limits or denies their right to travel from place to place in their own land, using various excuses.  Farmers from A’anin would be happy to obtain an agricultural crossing permit to their lands, even if they had to make a wide detour.  This checkpoint is open daily, for almost the entire day, which would allow them to cultivate their olive groves, grow vegetables among the trees and reach their lands more often than twice a week.  But according to the logic of the occupation, what they want is exactly what the occupier doesn’t.

A man tells us about his brother, a teacher, who’s also trying to make a living from lectures and instruction to youths in seam zone villages.  Suddenly his permit hasn’t been renewed.  He wants at least to receive an agricultural permit to work the family land.  We referred him to the humanitarian office which deals with these things.

07:50  Tayibe/Rumanneh agricultural checkpoint 154

A military vehicle turns around between the checkpoint gates and eventually crosses to the security road and disappears.  A tractor follows, smoothing the powdered track that shows footprints and adds another layer of dust to the heavy haze.  Only at 08:10 does the Border Police jeep arrive and personnel get out and quickly open the checkpoint gates.  Since they barely acknowledged our greeting it’s clear that we’re still receiving the silent treatment.  Two tractors cross, a woman, a few youths, and adults.