Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

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Observers: 
Hasida |Shafran, Vera Moskovitz, (Reporting) Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham
Sep-21-2016
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Afternoon

15:45 – Yaabed – Dotan Checkpoint

Today we drove Ali and his mother back from Rambam Hospital.  It was nice to talk with them and to learn that Ali's condition is better than it was several weeks ago.   We were happy to save Ali's father from driving a few extra kilometers.

The checkpoint is not manned and is empty and unnecessary.  Cars are driving freely in both directions without being stopped or checked.   As we turned to leave we heard a shout from the pillbox: "Until when?"  The shout still echoes in our minds: until when?

16:00 – Barta'a Reihan Checkpoint

When we returned from Yaabed Checkpoint we saw a lot of cars parked along the road and in the old and new parking lots.   The large parking lot east of the checkpoint is now twice as long, and the construction of the new city of Harish bring a lot of workers and cars to this checkpoint.   

parking lot Barta`a.jpg

The picture on the Israeli side of the checkpoint is what we usually see here: a lot of workers, mostly young men coming home from work, getting out of cars, going down the sleeveinfo-icon and through the turnstile to the other side of their world.    The inspection windows are no longer in use.   We asked people what the crossing was like in the morning and they said "Okay".  "Okay" has a lot of different shades…of gray. 

The water cooler at the entrance to the turnstile has disappeared and the one at the entrance to the sleeve is missing all of its pipes.  There is nothing to drink and nowhere to get a drink of water.

17:00 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint

Cars and pedestrians are crossing to the West Bank.  We did not see any traffic going the other way.  The garbage container is in its place surrounded by litter.  Is it so difficult to clean if this all has to be here?