'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Mon 1.10.07, Afternoon
Observers:
Neta G., Anna N. S. (reporting)
Oct-1-2007
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Afternoon
12:15 - 15:45
Translation: Devorah K.
Along the road that leads to the seamline zone, there are signs inviting people to the Succoth festivities - music, story-telling, and games for the family in the lap of nature. At the entrance to the Barta'a enclave a Haredi girl is standing and distributing flyers that announce the events in the settlements in the area: Tal Menashe, Reihan, Hinanit, Shaked, Mavo Dothan and Hermesh. We invite her to come with us to the checkpoint, but she believes in 'all the Land of Israel'. She does not know anything about the occupation.
12:15 - 13:30 Shaked (Tura)
The soldiers warn us not to pass the white line. By 13:00 most of the pupils and the little children have already gone home to the seamline zone. The school day is a little shorter because of the Ramadan. The high school pupils have to go through the inspection hut and they come out with their belts in their hands. They say that the school bags are opened and inspected as are the sandwich bags. The younger pupils open their bags and the soldiers glance into them.
A group of pupils coming back from school tease us. The hostile attitude toward us is upsetting.... the buds of hate and hostility and the desire to demonstrate anger. We wait for one of the local people who wants to give us documents and will sign others. The soldiers do not allow us to meet in the middle of the CP. Every one of our attempts to enter the CP compound in order to say something to the soldiers arouses a flood of belligerence: "Get out of here, go on, go on, get out of here!"
A woman wants to transport a washing machine from Tura to her home in Daher el-Malek. She puts it on her head as if it was a straw basket and steps up to the soldiers, who, of course, do not allow her to take it.
Cars pass from here to there with no unnecessary delays. A. goes through with his new pickup truck, which is at long last registered on his permit. People are returning from the West Bank with bags of food.
13:40 - 15:00 Reihan (Barta'a)
In the shed in the lower parking lot, there is a collection of sofas and armchairs, and the drivers are sitting and lying on them, waiting for passengers. Walid is also there as a porter -on -call. During the Ramadan he does not sell coffee and sweets. An ugly routine.
Shortly after 14:00, the seamstresses return in groups. 200 seamstresses work in three sewing workshops in Barta'a, 8 hours a day, for a wage of between 6 and 10 NIS per hour. They object to the inspections in the rooms of the terminal, do not understand why they have to have their IDs inspected twice within a few minutes. They are happy about the the article on the CP in the newspaper, Haaretz; they are proud to tell us that the reporter interviewed them and and ask for a copy of the article.
Toward three o'clock there are more people returning from the seamline zone, and all together only a few dozen go through.
Two pickup trucks are waiting for inspection. A. claims that they are only allowed to transport 30 sheep per day, in two shifts, 15 each time. And that is not enough.
15:05-15:45. 'Anin
Three soldiers at the entrance to the CP at the front, one of them has in hand the ID cards that he collected. He opens each and reads the last 4 numerals to the soldier who checks the numbers on the list in red. The third soldier is bored.
32 people went through in the morning and now they are noting those returning. The passage is conducted quickly and quietly. There is no eye contact, no exchange of words, no greeting. Those standing opposite the gate wait quietly for their turn. Some on foot and some on tractors. They get their IDs back without a word. And without a word go on to their homes.