'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Mon 16.6.08, Morning
Translation: Devorah K.
05:00 Reihan (Barta'a)
We came especially early because we were told that the CP would open at five - half an hour earlier than usual. And indeed it opened with a greeting of 'good morning to all' from the workers in the hut. About a hundred people crowded together at the entrance, but there was no tension and no pushing. They entered in fives, in alternating groups of men and women.
At 5:13 the first person came out of the terminal to the seamline zone. Within about 12 minutes, 25 people came out. Now that they have cancelled the inspection in the rooms, the passage is quicker, but since yesterday the x-ray machine has been out of order and that is why people are going through the rooms again. At this time: four private cars are being inspected; a few cars are in a queue; about seven pickup trucks loaded with foodstuffs wait until 7 o'clock; one is loaded with sheep, crowded together and bleating.
05:50 At the exit from the terminal a number of seamstresses are waiting. They say that about 200 seamstresses from Jenin and the surrounding area go through here every day. One of the cars that gives them a ride to work has left without waiting for all the women. Now, those who are left will have to get to work in the taxi that takes the men. The workers from Shahak are waiting at the curb for their lift which has not yet arrived.
The Reihan CP has a new look that appears surprisingly pleasant. The residents react with expressions such as: "Now everything is fine" to the abolition of inspections in the rooms at the sides and to the earlier opening hour. The garden is full of flowers and there are benches and a slide for the children of those who have to wait. It is as if everything is fine, and everything is organized with consideration and respect.
But this is after all a false presentation which hides the injustices of the occupation under a sweet illusory mask of justice and freedom. It is interesting that not a single woman will say that 'everything is fine'; they see the distorted reality that is dressed up as a day of leisure. 06:05 A'anin CP
50 people are waiting and there are also tractors loaded with workers. The inspection is being carried out far from our eyes; they inspect documents and the details are recorded. This procedure delays the passage and lengthens it a great deal. It takes about five minutes and more from person to person.
06:30 - the tempo of the passage quickens. At 07:00, about 20 people were still waiting and we left.
07:10 Shaked (Tura) CP
The pupils are on vacation. A young mother with her sick daughter (aged about 10) are on their way to Hadassah Hospital and a young man is accompanying them. A., the Israeli volunteer who will drive them to Jerusalem, receives them with a tremendous smile full of kindness. On the Tura side, there are about 25 people, most of them young, waiting quietly. It seems that all nine soldiers at the CP are only allowing vehicles through in both directions, and students going to Jenin. On the side of the seamline zone more and more people keep coming, and they also wait patiently. The x-ray machine in the compound is out of order and that is why the passage is so slow. For almost an hour, people are kept from getting to work on time, delayed because of one stupid piece of equipment. The nine soldiers at the CP cannot find a way to solve the problem.
08:15, Major M. arrives and tells the soldiers that they can inspect the people just as they did before the days of the machine. In a short time the queue disappears and all of them go through. He tells us that it is impossible to give this kind of instruction by phone. Why? A man from the West Bank goes through and yells: "All the Jews are shit!"
08:30 Reihan (Barta'a) CP
The routine of the occupation is depressing. A few people go through from here to there. Our friend, A., says that there are no new CPs on the road to Jenin or to TulKarem. Nine pickup trucks and a number of private cars are waiting for inspection.
Everything "is fine".
09:10 We left.