Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

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Observers: 
Ruti Toval, Rachel Weizmann (observers), J.H. (translation)
Sep-11-2016
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Afternoon

15:20 Tura Shaked Checkpoint

A few women stood on the side of the seam zone, waiting for their rides to complete their examination and pick them up. It happened very quickly. It was very quiet at the checkpoint, more so than usual, perhaps because of the Eid al-Adha holiday which was at hand. As usual, garbage littered the area. When asked, the soldiers said that they didn’t know who was responsible for cleaning the checkpoint.

 

15:45 Barta'a Riehan Checkpoint

The parking lot beside the seam zone was totally full of cars with Israeli license plates. We were told that Arab Israelis leave their cars in the lot and cross into the West Bank on foot, in order to spend the holiday with their families on the Palestinian side. The problem is that most won’t be able to return this way, but rather will need to go around to the Jalameh or Tulkarm checkpoints.

We were told that the checkpoint is open for pedestrian traffic until midnight during holidays.

The parking lots on the Palestinian side were pretty empty and there wasn’t traffic of laborers returning from work at that time of day. People weren’t required to be checked in the machines, but we didn’t know if this was a new arrangement or if after the holiday they will again be put to use.