Aanin checkpoint: the gate at the monstrous checkpoint is opened by hand, by pulling a cable

06:00 Barta'a checkpoint

Jenin is ablaze and since it's the regional city of the northern West Bank, this affects everyone coming through Barta’a, the largest checkpoint in the area. Many Palestinians come from Jenin itself and from the surrounding villages and localities. Most of them are crossing here on their way to build the new city of Harish or have other jobs in Israel. There's enormous military presence on the road from Jenin to Barta’a, so we're told. And at the Ya’abed Dotan checkpoint, the first point where Palestinians coming to Israel from Jenin are stopped, there's increased military presence. It takes a very, very long time to get through. “One car every half hour,” someone says. The number of cars in the huge parking lot opposite the checkpoint has dropped to at least half. Nevertheless, lots of people are still coming to checkpoint. There are no hold-ups. Masses of people are waiting for rides in the upper parking lot.

The cigarette seller at the entrance to the transit hut tells us he is on the police list of people who cannot get a permanent entry permit. A long, long time ago, when he was 20, he was imprisoned in Israel.  His brother, who has also been in prison in Israel, is not prevented from entering Israel. Netta gave him Sylvia's number and encouraged him to call tomorrow morning.

06:45 Taibe-Romana checkpoint

The gate in the menacing wall, which is opened manually (!) by pulling on a rope (like rolling up the old kind of blinds), is open. Two officers (a male and female lieutenant) come to check who we are. They have apparently been given orders not to trouble us, since they no longer try to move us away and only emphasize repeatedly that we aren’t allowed to take pictures. If looks could kill, whether out of disgust or curiosity, the female officer with the hypnotic eyes would finish us off.

07:10 Anin checkpoint

The checkpoint is crowded full with a mix of people, military vehicles and soldiers and representatives of the Liaison and Coordination Administration, drivers and workers, huge trucks carrying concrete blocks for building the wall, heavy goods vehicles – utter mayhem. Dozens of people have crossed through the checkpoint, as have two tractors. Have computers that usually cross through the Jalameh checkpoint (Gilboa crossing), which is closed today because of the fighting in Jenin, come here instead?  Everything is close by, here in the northern West Bank.

07:20 Tura checkpoint

There’s hardly a living soul here at the checkpoint.