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

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Observers: 
Miriam Banai, Ruthi Tuval, Reporting, photos Translation: Bracha Ben-Avraham
Nov-23-2017
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Afternoon
A'anin Checkpoint: The lock would not open.
A'anin Checkpoint: The lock would not open.
Photo: 
Ruti Tuval
A'anin Checkpoint: An unusually long line at this checkpoint
A'anin Checkpoint: An unusually long line at this checkpoint
Photo: 
Ruti Tuval
A'anin Checkpoint: Young men were waiting.  Perhaps they will be allowed to cross here
A'anin Checkpoint: Young men were waiting.  Perhaps they will be allowed to cross here
Photo: 
Ruti Tuval

15:50 – A'anin Agricultural Checkpoint

The soldiers arrived shortly after we did and struggled with the difficult lock that locks the checkpoint gate.  The lock eventually opened.  The large crowd who were attempting to get home were pushed back together with the only tractor present with shouts of "five at a time".  Each person presented their license to the soldiers.  Two young men were refused entry because their permits allowed them to cross at Barta'a Checkpoint, and they had to waste what little money they had on an hour's journey to the village which is five minutes' walk from this checkpoint.  We offered them a ride, but they smiled bashfully and continued to wait outside the gate.   Evidently they preferred to wait and hoped the soldiers would let them cross.  We attempted to intervene but this did not help and perhaps even hindered the situation.  One of the soldiers told us, "This isn't a kindergarten."   Eventually the young men were called over and told to wait.  From our experience this usually means that they would be permitted to cross.    

At the junction we met Faez who was attempting to get a permit for his daughter-in-law to cross to the seamline zone.  He explained that only land owners and their close relatives are permitted to cross to work in the fields.

16:35 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint (Daily Life Checkpoint)

A few people and vehicles were crossing at this quiet checkpoint. 

16:55 – Reihan – Barta'a Checkpoint, Palestinian Side

The parking lot was completely full.  A strong odor of fresh fish was coming from the temporary booth, and someone opposite was attempting to sell mobile telephones from the trunk of his car.   Many people were returning from work and the turnstile was turning constantly.  A person who was attempting to cross in the opposite direction was having trouble getting through and Ali made people stop and halted the turnstile.

Ali assertively makes an absurd request – he wants a retrial.  A judge in the Salem military court found him not guilty.  He is the father of four children and had nothing to do with throwing stones, of which he was accused by an enemy.  However, the army made an appeal in the military court in Ofer and he was sentenced to four months in prison, of which he served three weeks.  All claims he went crazy and he was released after his attorney arranged for him to pay 12,000 NIS.   Now he cannot earn a living because his car was sold and his work permit was cancelled.   Now he is willing to compromise. "All right, I don't need another trial; all I need is a work permit to cross at Barta'a Checkpoint."   We also met the cheerful Hadi and Jihad who is trying to acquire a guarantor payment of NIS 15,000.  This will mean a lot of work for our dedicated Sylvia, Elia, and Tami.      

We left at 17:45.