'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
6:00 Reihan-Barta'a checkpoint
The upper car park is full of people waiting for transportation to the various work places. Many workers are coming out of the terminal.
In the lower car park we met a Palestinian who tried to make a living by selling cigarettes to the people on their way to work. He was kicked out of there with the goods and in addition his ID card has been confiscated. He was told that he can get it back at the DCO in Salem. Isn't banishment enough? Was it necessary to take his ID card two days prior to the Moslem holiday?
A line of 50-100 people forms at the entrance to the terminal. Every few minutes 50 people are allowed inside and the turnstile stops. This process works quietly and efficiently. While they are waiting we talk with some of them and the complaint that is repeated is about the late opening of the checkpoints on Fridays and before holidays (which are frequent at this time of year). Those working morning shifts lose work hours and wages and those who work night shifts return home one to two hours late.
6:35 Anin checkpoint
The site was opened on time and we met farmers, some of them on tractors, on their way to pick olives. DCO staff are there, close to where we stand. We tried engaging them in conversation regarding the late opening of the checkpoints on the eve of holidays but had no success.
7:00 Shaked-Tura checkpoint
The site is open. On the side of the village of Tura one can see workers waiting to enter the inspection cabin.
The first ones come out at 07:10 and go on their way to the Seam Line zone.
7:15 The checkpoint appears to wake up with rapid traffic of vehicles and pedestrians on both sides. One of the workers makes a remark :"Today it does not feel like a checkpoint…."