North West Bank - Delays at checkpoints
We arrived at the checkpoints from the direction of Meggido Junction. We stopped to peek at A’anin Checkpoint on the way, which was not open today but the soldiers were still guarding the fence day and night.
Barta’a – Reihan Checkpoint 05:30
The upper parking lot and the area around it were already filled with cars. Workers filled the entire area up to the junction. We found a temporary parking space in the lower parking lot next to the entrance to the covered “corral”. A lot of people were gathered there but after five minutes the turnstiles opened and people entered the terminal. Two workers were sent out again despite the fact that they held valid permits to work in Israel. They approached us and explained that their magnetic cards did not work despite the fact that they were new, and the workers in the terminal did not have time to type in their details into the computer. They were told to come back at 08:00. One of them was extremely upset and explained that his employer would not wait for him. “I’ve lost my work day.” The other worker was also upset because he had a 00 permit that entitled him to cross at any checkpoint. He was in charge of 12 other workers who were waiting for him and his employer was waiting for him in Hadera. We attempted to call the checkpoint workers but they said they had no time to deal with certificates right now and that the workers had to come back at 08:00.
We learned that from 10:00 only residents of the seamline zone could renew magnetic cards in the terminal, while residents of the West Bank had to make an appointment. H. received an appointment for June 12th. What was he supposed to do for the next two weeks? Meanwhile more workers were sent back and told to come back at 08:00.
At 06:30 we called again and spoke to a checkpoint worker named Shlomi. We pointed out that there were no more crowds and –perhaps now they could receive the people who were waiting so that they would not miss a day of work. Shlomi answered that “It’s against the rules.” While this entire episode was going on a young man arrived who was a cancer patient and a volunteer from the “Road to Recovery” organization was waiting for him. He, too, was sent back despite the fact that he had a letter stating that he had an appointment at Sheba Hospital. We spoke with Shlomi again who permitted us to take him to the vehicle crossing. When he went back to bring the heavy package that he had left next to the turnstile he was allowed to cross through the terminal.
06:55 – Tura – Shaked Checkpoint
We waited patiently with girls from the “Lone House” who were waiting to go to school in Yaabed. At 07:10 we lost our patience. The soldiers at the checkpoint could not let them through and we had to wait for the soldiers from the military police. At 07:15 a serious female lieutenant finally opened the gate to the sleeve
. There was a lot of traffic in both directions.
At 07:40 we drove back to Barta’a Reihan checkpoint because we were concerned about what had happened with the cancer patient. He was still there and his driver had left. After conferring with the woman in charge of rides and with Marina’s advice we helped him board a taxi at Harish at 08:10 and paid for the ride to Sheba Hospital.
