Reihan, Shaked, Sun 21.12.08, Morning

Share:
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email
Place: 
Barta'a-Reihan
Tura-Shaked
Tags: 
Seam Zone
Passage Restrictions
Observers: 
Yocheved G. Chana H. (reporting)
Dec-21-2008
|
Morning

 

06:10 Aanin Checkpoint
The checkpoint opened at 05:30, and many men have already passed and are waiting for transport to the Seam Zone/Israel.
One of those waiting is an Aanin resident who tells us that now agricultural passes are not being given to anyone. He and his brother have passes to work in Reihan and in Taibe, but they cannot pass at Aanin Checkpoint to work their family’s land. Other farm workers complain that they have not yet completed the work necessary after the olive picking – pruning and clearing the groves. Since April there has been a considerable reduction in agricultural permits, and when they turn to the DCO in Salem, they are given the runaround – after a day waiting there they are sent to the Palestinian DCO in Jenin. Attempts by the mukhtar of the village were fruitless.

We go down the sleeveinfo-icon and are amazed by the development of Reihan Park. In honour of Hanukka they erected a candelabrum and paved a plaza around it, for a show (?).
 

06:20 – the terminal is empty, people arrive and pass in a slow and quiet flow. We are told that few are waiting.


06:40 –perhaps 20 labourers wait in the upper area of the checkpoint to continue their journey to work in Bartaa. The vehicles that brought them are waiting in line for 20 minutes, checked for another 20, and on a good day like today the passengers wait half an hour and lose time.


06:50 – nine pickups are waiting in the lower lot for inspection of their agricultural loads.


07:15 Shaked-Tura Checkpoint
Thirteen workers have already passed and are waiting for cars that will take them to work in the Seam Zone. Perhaps 20 are still waiting by the gate and turnstile.
Here too it is a good day. Small schoolchildren arrive and pass immediately without a check. Older ones, students and teachers, pass immediately after showing IDs. The vehicles bringing them go straight in to the checkpoint, and the inspection takes a minute or two.
Four cars pass into the Seam Zone and are checked briskly.

At 07:30, the pressure is off, and few people are waiting for transport.


07:45 Reihan-Bartaa Checkpoint
Five vans loaded with produce are being checked in the closed compound.

People continue to arrive and go straight into the terminal.


08:00 – we leave.