The Northern checkpoints: The apparent routine is not the whole story

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Observers: 
Hannah H. with Pierre, the driver Marcia L., Translation
Jun-8-2023
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Afternoon

16:30 – 15;00

 

15:00 -  Barta’a Checkpoint
In the upper parking lot (located in the Seam Zone), mainly women are waiting, who are returning home to the West Bank after working in the Seamline Zone, and a few men with heavy baskets.  Palestinian taxis that have permits to cross back and forth from the West Bank to the Seamline Zone, pick them up and they set out with no inspection at the vehicle checkpoint and without having to make the arduous journey by foot through the long sleeveinfo-icon (enclosed sleeve though which people pass) to the terminal.

 Hundreds of workers go down through the sleeve and cross to the West Bank via the terminal, some of them supplied with rugelach for Shabbat, from the kiosk that is open.  The kiosk (a Shekem concession) that was built in the upper parking lot half a year ago, hasn’t functioned at all.

Six trucks with merchandise go to the inspection shed and afterward, continue to the shuk (market) in East Barta’a, in the Seamline Zone (next to the Israeli West Barta’a).

16:00 – Tura Checkpoint
Cars pass in two directions.  Wedding season has begun, and a group of young men from Tura, leave for work as waiters at a wedding in Umm al Fahm.  An older couple from Tura leaves for a family visit in Israel and bring fruit from their orchard with them. They generously treated us to sweet, delicious plums.

Two students return from the Seamline Zone, from the university in Jenin, which they attend a few times a week. 

This is the routine one sees at the checkpoints, but this is not the whole story.