Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Ya'bed-Dotan
- The settlement is not only 5 minutes from Kfar Saba, but also only 7 minutes from Harish.
- Palestinian security guards, armed with truncheon, create order at Barta’a Checkpoint enterance.
proximity of Harish city. Israeli flag provides the authorization to commercialize the stolen land.
Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint, 05:55
On the seamline side there are already a lot of people waiting for transportation. Many others go up to the terminal via the fenced path (the sleeve
) and join in those waiting.
On the Palestinian side, to our surprise, the parking lot is not full at all. Maybe the fee of 5 shekel a day for parking deters many drivers who park on the sides of the road, some distance from the checkpoint, and also in the two “private” parking lots above the road. A double line of those waiting to enter reaches to the end of the parking lot. The line is orderly and totally quiet. The sight of it is depressing. Three Palestinian security guards supervise the line. They are dressed in black vests and are equipped with tear gas, truncheons and walkie-talkies. They work for the Palestinian security company called TMS SECURITY (“True More Safe”). The person responsible on behalf of the company, in a special car, supervises the attendants. A., the senior and charismatic volunteer attendant, also helps the people coming in large groups of about 120 people each time.
06:35 – There is no line. The few who come at this hour enter immediately.
We are told that the East Barta’a Council and the Jenin Governorate pay the salary of the security guards and the local council receives the money from parking. We don’t see how they pay. We understand that the drivers of the transportation vehicles, who do not stay all day in the lot, do not pay.
Ya’bed-Dotan Checkpoint, 06:45
The checkpoint is not manned and also there is no traffic at this hour. For some reason, all the lights are on in the area of the checkpoint and also on the guard tower on the way.
06:55 We pass by the Barta’a Checkpoint. There are already almost no one waiting and also there are no transport vehicles on the side of the Seamline Zone. People have already traveled to their places of work.
Tura-Shaked Checkpoint, 0:05
They tell us that the checkpoint was opened on time, at 06:30. Few pass at this hour. Three cars wait for them. A woman waits for a ride. She is a resident of Tura, a teacher by profession, but works as a secretary for a dentist in Barta’a.
The garbage bin was emptied, but the area is very dirty and there are many old tires.
07:15 – We leave with a heavy heart. The orderly arrangement at the Barta’a Checkpoint is efficient, but is depressing and is even scary.