Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

15:25 – Tura-Shaked Checkpoint
On the way to the checkpoint, we entered the village of Daher al-Malek to find out whether the electrical work that was being carried out on the way to the checkpoint (lighting poles, and electrical conductors) also reached the village.  We saw a large electric box but nothing was connected to it.  A resident of the village told us that as long as the residents don’t cancel their claim about their land being taken from them, “they” won’t connect the electricity.  If the village gives up its claim, the electricity will be connected.  According to this man, an attorney is handling the case.  Until then, our happiness is premature.
At the checkpoint we met a worker who told us that in the morning, the passage through the checkpoint was very slow and that the soldiers delayed it on purpose.
In the hour that we had been there, it was quiet as always; a few pedestrians and a few cars passed through.

16:15 – Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint
In the beginning, we went down to the lower parking lot on the Palestinian side, which was completely filled, with no place to park.  We returned to the upper parking lot and went down to the terminal through the sleeve (enclosed passage to the terminal), which was filled with workers.  There was a river of people which finally drained out into a small, crowded turnstile.  From time-to-time a long line remained at the entrance to the turnstile.  When we left the sleeve, we saw police taking out a young man from their car and after a body search, they released him from the handcuffs and he crossed to the Palestinian side.  We weren’t successful in finding out the details.

At about five o’clock we left and returned home in terrible traffic.