Reihan, Sun 11.11.07, Morning

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Observers: 
Dvorah S. and Hanna H.
Nov-11-2007
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Morning

Reihan
07:10 - 09:00
The women and most of the men laborers have already left for work. Two groups are still waiting for their 'boss' to pick them up. They tell us that the CP opened at 05:30 and that they were kept in the inspection rooms for 15 to 30 minutes. Those who are coming out now, when it is not so crowded are kept 3 to 5 minutes. In the pedestrian passageway, there is a steady flow of traffic in both directions.

7:25
- Twelve pickup trucks with goods are waiting in the Palestinian parking lot. One loaded with sheep is waiting at the side in order to enter without waiting in the queue - as has been agreed for a long time. Three vehicles are being inspected in the enclosed compound.

08:00
- the first three vehicles leave; three with goods enter for the preliminary inspection - the sheep remain behind. A. tells us that today the permits for the Reihan CP were already inspected at the Dothan CP.

Just as we were thinking how horrible it is that the conduct at the CPs can be anticipated and is just routine, the pile of eggs in one of the waiting pickup trucks falls apart. While they are collecting what they can, we talk to the drivers who explain why they put the trays of eggs on the rather loose back door (of the pickup truck). We suggest that they put the permitted daily quota in one or two of the trucks which will transport only eggs. But they are not certain that this would be possible. The driver with the sheep tries to convince Rabia (the one responsible for the vehicle CP) to let him through, but he does not succeed. Dvorah, who believed in the power of logic, approached Rabia in order to try to talk to him. But, very quickly, the conversation turned into shouts, and Rabia gave a command for all the electric gatesinfo-icon to be closed until Dvorah went away and Charlie was summoned to the vehicle CP. The driver was called for a 'discussion' and he was punished. From today on, the vehicles with the sheep will also have to stand in the queue and will be taken into the compound for inspection.

After five minutes, Sharon came to talk to us; he wanted to find out what the problem had been. In the end, we succeeded in coming to a favorable agreement with him, and I hope that the agreement will be implemented on location. (1) Vehicles with sheep and meat will not have to wait in the queue but will be inspected in the closed compound (during the winter).  (2) Sharon will allow the drivers to decide how they want to transport the eggs, given that they stick to the daily allowance. Today, every driver can transport 50 cartons (he says that the quota was set this month in consultation with the head of the Barta'a local council). On the assumption that there are 40 vehicles per day, the drivers are allowed to transport 2000 cartons all together.


When we left at 09:20, the car with the sheep was still waiting and the drivers were having a stormy meeting in the parking lot, discussing the matter of the eggs.