Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

14:10 – Tura Shaked Checkpoint
The checkpoint is quiet and empty.  Two pedestrians cross to the West Bank and one woman crosses to the seamline zone.  The superfluous facilities look even more absurd than usual, and the presence of garbage is noticeable everywhere.

14:40 – Barta'a Reihan Checkpoint
Two women and some children are waiting for a ride on the seamline zone side.  We cross to the Palestinian side.  The large parking lot and the auxiliary parking lots on the side of the road are all full.  The Palestinian security people have already finished their shift.  Agricultural workers arrive carrying bags of oranges, and the smell of citrus fruits fills the air.  Our old friends the seamstresses who work in the sewing factories in Barta'a greet us amiably and get into minibusses to go home.   Some of them are residents of Zibda, Yaabed, Kabtiya, and even Tulkarem, which is much further away.  We bought baklava and a soft drink from someone who has converted his car into a concession stand.  We asked him about the resourceful disabled man with the motor scooter who sold coffee and snacks.  Evidently he came often but the people in charge at the checkpoint made him leave.  According to the man selling baklava, when he explained to them that he was unable to do any other work because of his disability he was told that they were not interested.  They also attempted to send him away, telling him that the checkpoint is not a marketplace and he could not open a stall there, but he has continued to come, claiming that it's only a car with the back door open.  His baklava is excellent and the soft drinks taste like soft drinks sold in Israel a long time ago.     

Trucks are still waiting to be checked and entered the inspection facility while we were at the checkpoint.

We heard on the radio that officers from the Liaison and Coordination Administration confiscated tons of cut wood that were supposed to be sent to charcoal factories in northern Sumaria. No one mentioned this and we did not ask. 

15:20 – A'anin Checkpoint
People are waiting to cross.  Meanwhile a man shows us the protocol and verdict from his trial that took place in the Magistrate's Court in Hadera regarding illegal entry into Israel.  He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment - two of which are prohibition for an identical previous transgression.  To this they have added two months of imprisonment with two years of probation. The 45-day appeal period has passed.  The entire document is written in Hebrew which the "criminal" is unable to read. 

At 15:30 the soldiers arrived on time and many people continued to arrive.  Everyone crossed quickly without delay.

We left at 15:50.  The soldiers are supposed to remain at the checkpoint until 16:30.  According to the Liaison and Coordination Administration the olive harvest will continue until November 30^th.