'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Mon 10.3.08, Morning

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Observers: 
Anna NS, Neta G (reporting)
Mar-10-2008
|
Morning
Guest: Mayan (student studying in Spain)

06:05 Aanin Checkpoint
The first man passes the checkpoint. Another is already detained on the side, and yet another is sent back to the village. The inspections are slow and particularly thorough. Men are ordered to roll up trouser legs, open coats and raise shirts. It’s hard to watch a grandfather doing this in front of his grandchild.
By the checkpoint, on the Seam Zone side, an ill woman stands , coughing, regretting that she had crossed. There are small mercies – the soldiers let her pass without delay.

06:35 – the lower gate is closing, on the Aanin side. Some 35 men and three tractors are waiting in the middle of the checkpoint, between the gatesinfo-icon.

06:45 – the battalion commander arrives; Lieutenant Colonel A. approaches us courteously and asks us if we have witnessed any harsh treatment. It is a matter of definition. We complain about the slowness of the inspection (he will look into it, it is within his jurisdiction), and about the procedure regarding people returning through another checkpoint, whereupon their permits are confiscated, as if they had not returned (not within his jurisdiction, but will take it up with the people responsible at Brigade).

07:00 – six people are detained. They don’t have to sit on the ground; they are "allowed" to stand. A soldier guards them. Anna phones the Humanitarian Centre and the DCO. Later it turns out that some of them have crossed and others were returned to Aanin.

07:30 Shaked-Tura Checkpoint

The last of the schoolchildren passes as the soldiers peek into their satchels. 25 people are waiting on the Tura side to cross into the Seam Zone. They complain that passage is slow today.
Two goatherds pass with their flocks. The goats have it good: they don’t need permits!

08:10 Reihan-Bartaa Checkpoint
The only open toilet cubicle in the upper parking lot, on the Seam Zone side, is very dirty.
People passing to work in East Bartaa say that today is okay. Five vehicles waiting to enter the West Bank.

08:30 – only three pickups wait in the lower parking lot. Pedestrian traffic is also less than usual.

The owner of the mobile snack bar says that his small village, Hirbet Masoud, is not connected to electricity, even though neighbouring Zabda has been connected three months ago. The reason, according to him, is that the army will not permit cables to be laid across a bridge, or under it.

09:30 – a pickup truck loaded with sheep arrives. Fifty egg trays are also loaded on it – from the ones stacked under the roof. Efficiency! We leave.