'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
15:00 – Anin Checkpoint
Four tractors, heavily loaded with things no one needs, pass through without problems. The young man on the tractor asks to get him a pair of pants, size 44. Two pedestrians pass through. The bench in the shed has been fixed up at last. Now it is possible to sit down. Amazing!
15:25 – We leave while The gates
are still open.
15:35 – Tura-Shaked Checkpoint
Only few people are there. A young man and his father sit in a car, looking very nervous. They are residents of Um Reihan (in Israel), and have come with three of the father’s sisters from Jenin )in the West Bank), to pass through to the Seamline Zone. The two under age girls must also present their mother’s identity card (which they had), plus a birth certificate, which they didn’t. Then, suddenly, after a two-hours delay, the girls were allowed to pass without the birth certificate. Here too the bench in the shed was renovated, and it is possible to sit down.
16:00 – Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
There are only a few people. Due to Ramadan, they are permitting groups of people to pass here to Jerusalem. The people leave at 16:00 by bus, and return at night. The checkpoint is open until 23:00. I met a young woman whom I already knew from the checkpoint, a lovely student, who is studying English literature. She is an Israeli citizen and says that many Israeli citizens study in the West Bank. It is easier to be accepted and also costs less. We met a young man, prevented from crossing to Israel. His wife lives in Nazareth and they meet once every month or two. Too little.