'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
A'anin Agricultural Checkpoint
During the olive harvest this checkpoint is open every day until the army decides that the olive harvest is over. It will then open two days a week as usual.הגענו ב-15.25.
Many people are waiting with large white bags filled with olives. The checkpoint is supposed to open at 15:30, but the soldiers were also late today and after two telephone calls that we made they finally arrived at 16:10. Whether or not this was the result of our phone calls is not clear. Everyone roused themselves from the long wait and crossed through quickly without being checked or delayed. Nobody complained. They are used to it.
Tura – Shaked Checkpoint 16:15
The checkpoint is filled with equipment is open, with the stoplight squinting towards the settlement of Shaked. There is a lot of traffic. Someone is sitting on the bench under the dirty shelter, perhaps waiting for the car that will take him home, which is being checked.
Barta'a – Reihan Checkpoint 16:40
On our way to the checkpoint a long line of vehicles with Israeli license plates approached us. These were evidently employers bringing their workers back to the checkpoint at the end of the workday. People are pleased to be returning home to the West Bank, and the fact that there is no need for them to be checked on the way back makes them even more pleased.
We walked down the sleeve
to the turnstile that leads to the walkway around the terminal. We sat on the bench next to the turnstile and then walked up the sleeve and drove home. We met who are happy to have work and an opportunity to make a living, and for a while everything seems good.