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

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Observers: 
Zafrira Zamir, Neta Golan (Reporting). Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham
Jul-18-2018
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Afternoon

14:50 – Tura Shaked Checkpoint

The checkpoint was quiet and dirty. Only one person crossed to the West Bank while we were there.

15:15 – A’anin Checkpoint

The soldiers were already in their places and opened the checkpoint on time. A vehicle from the District Coordination and Liaison Administration arrived, sounding its siren loudly. Two officers asked us if everything was all right. We told them that last week people did not know that the opening hours of the checkpoint had changed. They told us that they were not responsible and that they had told the Palestinian contact, who was supposed to inform the mayors of the villages.

About 30 people and three tractors were waiting to cross. The people were called in groups of three and their ID cards were checked. The tractor drivers were also called and checked and then crossed. A young man came, looking like he had been working in construction because he had plaster or paint on his clothes. He had a permit to work in agriculture, so the soldiers stopped him and questioned him. When they asked him where he had been working he replied that he had been working in construction. The soldier remarked: “You could have at least taken a shower!”  The soldiers phoned and from what we could understand the young man’s agricultural permit was confiscated.

15:35 – The gatesinfo-icon of the checkpoint were locked according to the new time and the soldiers left for the Tibeh Romena Checkpoint.

15:50 – Barta’a – Reihan Checkpoint, Palestinian Side

The parking lot was filled with cars parked and jostling around and it was hard to make our way through. Some people were attempting to earn a living selling soft drinks and snacks. The managers of the checkpoint forbid it. The Palestinian attendants did their bidding and told the two vendors to pack up their wares and leave. It was upsetting to see Palestinians in the service of the occupation.

One of the vendors asked for our help with a another matter – someone's car had been impounded. The documents stated that the car could be freleased after paying a fine, but the car owner and his attorney don’t know where the car is. We asked Hannah Barag for her help. People also approached us about agricultural permits that had not been renewed. We referred them to the hotline for protection of the individual. We hoped that they would be able to help them.

16:30 – We made our way back to our car that was parked on the side of the road. Our trunk was checked at the vehicle inspection point but they did not ask for our ID cards.