Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
06.10. Barta’a – Reihan checkpoint.
The car –park on the seamline zone side is full of workers on their way to work, mainly in building the town of Harish, and of their transport vehicles. In the carpark on the Palestinian side there are still empty spots which will be filled later by the cars of Barta’a merchants. Trucks fill the area that is assigned to them. The single turnstile revolves without stop, as everyone arriving passes immediately. We are told that also in Yabed there are no delays, and we hurry on to Tura.
06.40. Tura - Shaked checkpoint.
They tell us that today everything is ‘kawakazi,’ the Palestinian equivalent of “America” says Marina - that is, “Ahla.” The checkpoint opened on time and passage was quick and efficient, unlike recent days, says K., when it looked as if they were deliberately delaying workers hurrying to their work. An assertive military policewoman demands that we stop photographing. “Not even Marina’s plait with Tura in the background?” “NO! nothing! This is military area.” At least she did not make us erase what we had already filmed. When we comment on the litter all around – looking like the green IDF plastic bags inside the checkpoint – they quickly rush to clear it.
Next to the checkpoint grow plants of “donkey’s spittle” (squirting cucumber) and we joke with the locals about this name.
In the end we tried to help a young woman from Tura, who had fled from her husband, an Israeli Arab, and left behind her 10 month old baby
that she wants to get back. If one of our colleagues knoiws of a similar case and to whom to approach (“Moked” are not able to help), we would be happy to hear from her.