'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

05:55 – Barta'a Reihan Checkpoint

The valley was covered with a thick fog. We drove through the mist with a line of cars driving to the checkpoint to collect workers. Our slow progress irritated other drivers.

People arrived at the checkpoint by car and on foot and entered the terminal. Occasionally their progress was halted because of the arrival of a car bringing workers returning from the night shift. There was no long line.

People asked about the closure. We mistakenly told people that the closure would take place only on Wednesday and Thursday. People greeted us and to our surprise and confusion, they wished us a happy Independence Day.  

06:35 – A'anin Checkpoint

We arrived together with the military police. The soldiers opened the gates of the checkpoint. The fog, which had begun to disperse in the valley, now settled on the hills, and the village was invisible. People appeared as silhouettes. The sun attempted to penetrate the clouds and looked white like the moon. Men, three tractors, a woman with three children, and another woman with two children arrived, but the two children were not allowed to cross. The woman was their grandmother, not their mother, so they were not permitted to cross together. One person asked how we were doing. When we said we were well he remarked that "the world is not well, not us nor you."   He is right. Here, too, someone wished us a happy holiday – part of the Israeli theater of the absurd.      

 07:15 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint

Only a few people are crossing at this time of day. Three young men arrived and waited for their friends. Groups of schoolchildren arrived. There were red poppies blooming between the fence and the garbage.

We left for home at 07:40. We heard on the 8:00 news that the closure for Memorial Day and Independence Day would begin today at midnight.

Roni Shalit and Neta Golan (Reporting and Photos). Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham

05:55 – Barta'a Reihan Checkpoint

The valley was covered with a thick fog. We drove through the mist with a line of cars driving to the checkpoint to collect workers. Our slow progress irritated other drivers.

People arrived at the checkpoint by car and on foot and entered the terminal. Occasionally their progress was halted because of the arrival of a car bringing workers returning from the night shift. There was no long line.

People asked about the closure. We mistakenly told people that the closure would take place only on Wednesday and Thursday. People greeted us and to our surprise and confusion, they wished us a happy Independence Day.  

06:35 – A'anin Checkpoint

We arrived together with the military police. The soldiers opened the gates of the checkpoint. The fog, which had begun to disperse in the valley, now settled on the hills, and the village was invisible. People appeared as silhouettes. The sun attempted to penetrate the clouds and looked white like the moon. Men, three tractors, a woman with three children, and another woman with two children arrived, but the two children were not allowed to cross. The woman was their grandmother, not their mother, so they were not permitted to cross together. One person asked how we were doing. When we said we were well he remarked that "the world is not well, not us nor you."   He is right. Here, too, someone wished us a happy holiday – part of the Israeli theater of the absurd.      

 07:15 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint

Only a few people are crossing at this time of day. Three young men arrived and waited for their friends. Groups of schoolchildren arrived. There were red poppies blooming between the fence and the garbage.

We left for home at 07:40. We heard on the 8:00 news that the closure for Memorial Day and Independence Day would begin today at midnight.