Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked, Ya'bed-Dotan

15:00 – Tura-Shaked Checkpoint

One car passed through to the West Bank.  A young man waited in the shed for a car that arrived immediately. Among those passing through there is a group of young women with their babies. A large car picks up everyone in the group.

15:20 – We pass by Barta’a Checkpoint. Many workers arrive at this hour.  Some trucks enter the inspection area above the vehicle checkpoint. The parking lots and the roadside are filled with cars.  Some people kneel to pray between the cars.

15:30 – We stop at the grocery store belonging to our friend, F. She is not in the store; in her place is one of her daughters.  We buy a popsicle (artik in Hebrew) for a shekel.

15:50 – Ya’bed-Dotan Checkpoint

A military vehicle is parked on the “red side” (the Palestinian side, Area A) of the checkpoint, but it doesn’t disturb the traffic.

16:10 – Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint, Seamline Zone side

We drive, obviously, on the Israeli road in order to pass the vehicle checkpoint at the Seamline Zone.  The inspector at the booth asks what we think of the checkpoint.  We have known him for years, we tell him.  (Indeed, for too many years. It would be interesting to know how many more years the checkpoint and everything it represents will be there.). He inspects our trunk, accompanied by a security guard.  They wish us a happy holiday.

Workers continue to arrive on their way home.  Our guest, who already come to the checkpoint with us many times, is shocked by the sight of those who march down the sleeve. We try to clarify the arrangements for passage during the week-long Passover holiday.  One of the Palestinian drivers says that on Sunday (the first day of the holiday), the checkpoint will open at 07:00, as on Saturdays. The rest of the week it will function normally. Hannah B. tried to find out this morning via the Liaison and Coordination Administration (Matak)  but no one knew the answer.

We travel on Highway 611, which leads to East Barta’a and Harish, and continue in the direction of the separation fence.  We don’t see any people crossing through breaches in the fence today, nor do we see people who have already passed through and wait on the road for rides. The road that goes up to the old Barta’a Checkpoint is empty of cars and people.

We stop at the small shuk that has opened at the entrance to East Barta’a. We buy some vegetables and fruits and go  home.