'Anin, Reihan, Shaked, Tue 28.10.08, Morning
Observers:
Tami s., Chasida S. (reporting)
Oct-28-2008
|
Morning
Translation: Yael Bassis-Student
Due to the inclement weather and a car malfunction we have arrived late and this would be an appropriate opportunity to express our outmost appreciation to our friends who get on the road at an early hour of four am in any weather.
0730 -0810 Aaneen checkpoint -
Due to the inclement weather and a car malfunction we have arrived late and this would be an appropriate opportunity to express our outmost appreciation to our friends who get on the road at an early hour of four am in any weather.
0730 -0810 Aaneen checkpoint -
Our hope that the gate would still be opened, as it happens at times where there are many people crossing, left us disappointed. But this was also the reason for our longer than usual stay at the site.
Aaneen checkpoint operates as what the army refers to as "an agriculture gate", that opens twice a week and during the olive picking season it opens daily for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. Upon our arrival there were about seven young people who set out for olive picking in the morning but due to the heavy rain had decided to return home, but alas the gate was already close.
We called the DCO, asking them to come over to open the gate,and we were told by the DCO that the gate did not open this morning. The youngsters insisted that the gate was open between six and seven this morning and that about 30 people had gone through. The DCO people were adamant in their claim that the gate wasn't opened in the first place and vice versa.
Following inquiries they promised to send over some soldiers, who didn't come, we called again and were told that they are already there, then they asked for the gate's number etc. Only after 40 minutes did the Hammer arrived with the key for the gate.
The gate opened and the farmers were able to return home. Luckily we had umbrellas.
Rihan checkpoint-
Rihan checkpoint-
At the Rihan checkpoint, as usual, after 8:00 am traffic streams along. There are private cars that are being inspected in the new white tent as well as pedestrians.
We have not seen pick up trucks with agriculture produce. They may have not come due to the rain or they have already gone through. We did see one pick up truck loaded with oil Jeri cans and big bundles covered with blue plastic, maybe olives sacks, the truck waited for inspection.
There were many vehicles at the lower (Palestinian) car park area as well as many drivers awaiting passengers going to Barta'a at the upper car park area.
Shaked checkpoint -
Shaked checkpoint -
Gates are wide open and nobody crosses over at this time.