Reihan, Shaked, Sun 13.7.08, Morning

05:55 Reihan Bartaa Checkpoint
"I don’t know what’s happenning today – we’re passing quickly." All those going through the sleeve this morning are content. Yes, we remember that many are prohibited from crossing... 18-25 people pass in five minutes (about 250 an hour). S. tells us that on Tuesday, despite the presence of a DCO officer and the checkpoint manager, transit was so slow that it came to blows. Someone blamed the slowness on "orders from above..."

06:00 – Pickups with produce are already being inspected. Some ten men are waiting at the entrance to the terminal in the direction of the Seam Zone. Students who arrived by taxi, in the direction of the West Bank, are being checked, with their belongings, at the vehicle checkpoint. We are forbidden to photograph security people, not even from a distance. We were ordered to delete photos.

06:55 Shaked-Tura Checkpoint
The gates are locked. Checkpoint is not yet manned. On the Seam Zone side, not a soul. On the other side, 15 people and two cars waiting. At 07:00 soldiers drive up. The checkpoint opens within a minute. Reinforcements arrive on foot within five minutes..

07:10 – 12 men waiting by the turnstile. A car arrives at inspection and is through in less than two minutes. Two soldiers prevent us photographing close to the fence: "It’s a military area." A sergeant approaches and announces: "It’s okay, permissible." Only one man passing in the direction of the West Bank – without check. The first transients to the Seam Zone – two children, pass without check. Delay in the inspection rooms for people going to the Seam Zone is now five minutes. Prolonged time compared with previous observations. What’s happening we ask: "New soldiers," a man says. "They’re dividing up bacclawa," his friend jokes.

07:20 – a taxi arrives. The passengers pass to the West Bank without a check. The taxi is through in eight minutes.

07:30 – a flock of goats and a donkey plus rider are waiting at the inside gate.

07:45 Reihan Bartaa Checkpoint
Taxi passengers pass, each in turn at a signal from the hut, putting their magnetic cards into the scanner. The bus from Bartaa arrives on time. Opposite – one passenger car in inspection. Four pick ups with produce move in for inspection. A quick enquiry elicits that this is the second group (since 06:00). The lower parking lot is now empty of pick ups. At 08:10, three more arrive. As already reported, the Bartaa market is currently weak and the quota of eggs has been halved. We leave at 08:15, but not before stocking up on delicious sweet figs.

Size 43 shoes needed for a worker...