'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Ya'bed-Dotan
The A'anin Checkpoint once again opened an hour late.
14:50 – A'anin Checkpoint
A dozen men, a woman, and two tractors are waiting. Two persons' hands are bandaged. Evidently they were injured at work. At 14:55 an army vehicle passes, and we are pleased, assuming that the checkpoint will open on time, but the vehicle disappears. At 15:15 we called the Liaison and Coordination Administration, who said they would see what the problem was. The same happened at 15:25. At 15:40 we were told that the soldiers were on their way. They arrived at 16:00, opened the checkpoint, and everyone crossed immediately. The commander answered when I greeted him but did not answer when I asked him why they were so late.
16:10 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint
The garbage container is empty and the area around it is clean. Evidently the area had been cleaned up for the Passover holiday. Tall white flowers are competing with the barbed wire fence. A few people and two cars crossed to the West Bank, but no one is crossing to the seamline zone at this hour.
We drove past Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint and the crowded parking lots next to it and continued to Yaabed - Mevo Dotan Checkpoint. We cross "the blocked bridge" on the way. The road towards Kafin is blocked with concrete roadblocks and the road toZibda had a locked gate across it. Cars are parked along the way. The gate on the road from Emricha to Yaabed is also locked.
16:30 – Yaabed – Dotan Checkpoint
The checkpoint is not manned and traffic to Yaabed and Jenin is moving without delay. We drove in the direction of Chermesh. The gate on the road to Tul Karem and Kafin is open as it has been for the past few years.
17:00 – Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint, Seamline Zone Side
A lot of workers are coming home from work, and many wish us a happy holiday. Luckily most of them work in Israel, because only one inspection window is operating. Those who work in the seamline zone are waiting in line in front of the window. The line is not long, but it is irritating. A few people are crossing to the seamline zone at this hour.
17:30 – On our way back to the car a person asks for our help. His brother is married to a woman from East Barta'a, but he has not succeeded in obtaining a permit as that he is a permanent resident in the seamline zone. He is listed as a resident of Yaabed, and only occasionally receives a temporary permit to enter Barta'a. We don't know how to help.