'Anin, Barta'a-Reihan, Tayba-Rummana

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Observers: 
Neta Golan, Shuli Bar, Translated by T.H
Nov-28-2018
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Morning

Barta’a-Reihan Checkpoint 5:55 a.m.
On the Palestinian side, the Palestinian usher/security guard (in black uniform, armed with a club) says he arrives at the checkpoint as early as 3 a.m. Why the hurry? Two hours ahead of time? Well, since the new installation was opened on this side, leading people to and from the terminal (that resembles a cattle corral, 4 narrow tracks, 4 turnstiles), the passage is rather swift, without any human contact between the occupier and the occupied. Most of the people crossing here (they used to be estimated at 2500 every morning) work in East Barta’a, and especially in constructing the new large Israeli town of Harish (south of the Iron highway interchange). Many of them work without permits but but but… If they don’t build the town, who will? So the occupation knows and turns a blind eye. For now.

Addition: while writing this report I saw a new video showing the Israeli army enter East Barta’a, confiscate construction equipment at a site that was begun “without construction permits”, and soldiers beating people who recorded the incident with their telephone cameras.

Aneen agricultural checkpoint 6:30 a.m.

Here the military police is at work. Palestinian line up and approach the soldiers’ post one by one, their name is checked on the computer and if it shows that they exited and returned here the last time, they get through. If no such match is found, chances are they’ll be turned back home. Why no match>? Because at the distant Barta’a Checkipoint they can cross every morning and come back at night. Twice a week they prefer to cross the Aneen Checkpoint that is closer to home, but must come back through it at 3:30 p.m., which is not always convenient for them. So they cross back at Barta’a. The soldiers claim that if they do not return through the Aneen Checkpoint, they may have crossed into Israel. Why – question for the occupation authorities – in this computerized day and age, can one not check on the computer through which checkpoint a person returned to the West Bank? After all, if he came through Aneen this morning, he must have gotten back somehow…

Tayibe-Roumana agricultural checkpoint 7:05

We and the soldiers leave Aneen Checkpoint and drive to Tayibe-Roumana Checkpoint. The soldiers drive along the fence road, and we – through the town of Umm Al Fahm (inside Israel). Usually we get there first. This time we arrive almost at the same time. The army gets organized and opens the three gatesinfo-icon of the checkpoint. Three young men are turned back for some (to us) unknown reason. Among others, young men, farmers, several women with children crossed as well.