Northern checkpoints: The crossing is through the checkpoints once again

06:00 - 07:30

6:00 - Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
There’s no doubt that the short film that MW sent to Ohad Hemo from Channel 12, showing the crowding and pushing that humiliates those going through the checkpoint in the morning, affected the administration of the checkpoint.  In the shed, also used for prayer, there are a lot of people sitting. They tell us that the checkpoint opening hour has been changed from 05:00 to 04:00 and the crossing is fast, about 10 minutes.  Some of these people had indeed arrived at 03:00, but prefer to sit now and wait, after going through.  The point is not to be late for transportation and lose a day of work.

We go down the pedestrian path (the “sleeve”) in the direction of the terminal and opposite us an endless stream of workers fasten the belts they took off during inspection. They leave the terminal quickly.  Those who are not fasting sit in the kiosk, behind the curtain.  Everyone emphasizes the benefits of the enormous change that began today after the early opening “mumtaz,” (excellent).

Laborers who work in Shahak (the industrial area in the Seamline Zone) during the night shift, return to the West Bank.

On the roads that we travel it is possible to see guard posts along the security roads - army tents and soldiers who guard the existing breaches in the fence.  At Barta’a Junction, on Route 611, there are workers waiting for transportation, and we don’t have any idea how they got there.

At the entrance to the settlement of Reihan, there is a large, closed hangar, a large fire fighting facility  and next to that, preparations for an additional large  public building--apparently in preparation for employment sources for the residents of the settlements.

6:45 - Tura-Shaked Checkpoint
The gate for pedestrians is still locked. A car with two passengers waits for the checkpoint to open.  Those sitting there tell us that every day they wait at 06:30 (the official opening time) but the soldiers arrive only around 07:00.  Residents of the West Bank who hurry to work had certainly already left  from the distant Barta’a Checkpoint.

At 07:00, the soldiers and two transits that carry workers between the checkpoint and places of work in the Seam Zone arrive.  At 07:10 about 30 workers from the West Bank hurriedly leave for work in the Seam  Zone.  It's been a long time since the breaches in the fence replaced the checkpoint that  we have seen so many workers actually crossing at this checkpoint.