'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

5:45-7:30

Barta’a Checkpoint – 5:45 – The upper car park is more crowded than usual, the women workers are still waiting for their transport and tell us that today is “good”. Hundreds of workers enter the sleeve without their food packs, some of them complain about the long time they spent at the checkpoint. The line in front of the terminal is very long and reaches the road, although groups of 65-240 people enter at a time, and in the terminal 6 windows are active. T. tells us this is the situation since the beginning of Ramadan. The crowding is probably because during Ramadan people wish to leave for work as early as possible and plead to have the checkpoint open earlier. The snack bar is open but its two parts are curtained.

A police-blacklisted person who was caught without a permit inside Israel turned to us. We gave him a phone number for inquiries.

‘Aneen Checkpoint – 6:30 – there’s not a soul in the checkpoint except for us, but from the wadi we hear sounds of tractors and people. At 6:35 we call the DCO to inquire and are answered that a new unit is posted there, and will be sought.

At 6:45 the new soldiers arrive and get organized at their leisure. At 6:55 the first worker comes out. The soldier on guard holds his weapon drawn the whole time. 72 people and 4 tractors came out. We are told that last Thursday the checkpoint was opened late, only at 8 a.m., and on Monday at 7 a.m., but everyone is n a good mood and we are requested to bring Adidas shoes for them next time we come here.

Toura Checkpoint – 7:15 -  we meet people who have already exited the checkpoint. They say that the checkpoint was opened late today – only at 7:10, and that there is “soldier who is no good”. A child crosses with his father and they tell us that there will be no school during the whole month of Ramadan, and immediately thereafter summer vacation begins.