Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked
16:00 Barta'a Riehan Checkpoint
We arrived later than usual because we waited for Ali and his mother until they finished his leukemia treatment at Rambam hospital. The sixteen year old boy was in treatment from the early hours of the morning until three in the afternoon. He can’t go to school and risk being exposed to ordinary illnesses. We wondered if he’s being educated in some other way but didn’t dare ask. It’s sad to guess at the likely answer. He and his mother speak Hebrew well, thanks to years of treatments in Israeli hospitals, as Ali explains to us. We parted at the entrance to the checkpoint with best wishes and warm hopes.
Upon our arrival, many laborers are rushing home after a long, hot day of work. To our surprise their crossing is fast and smooth, as if there weren’t a checkpoint there…. Do they all work in Israel and as such are exempt from having their papers examined? When we neared the carousel we discovered that the reason was that the examination posts were closed. Not malfunctioning. Closed. All over the place we see signs attesting to such. We’re told it started a day ago… a month… what’s behind the change? Is it temporary? Permanent? Either way, we observe that it’s a positive development for those using this crossing.
Today not a soul approached us with a request or question
17:00
Tura Shaked Checkpoint
yellow - the harvest approaches.
A pleasant breeze greets us (in August!) and we discover the garbage bin empty! But the surroundings are very neglected and dirty, as usual. Few pass through in both directions, just a few cars and trucks. We didn’t see any familiar faces, didn’t have any conversations, just exchanged greetings of ‘hello’, and ‘good day’.
We see a father with two children crossing toward the West Bank. The girl is gorgeous, a white ribbon in her black hair framing her glowing face. The father wasn’t inclined to start a conversation and passed by us quickly.
