Barta'a-Reihan, Tura-Shaked

Neta Golan, Anan N.S. Translation: Yael Bassis-Student


6:10   Barta'a-Rihan checkpoint    

 6-7 large and small trucks are waiting on the main road for inspection; 3 more wait in

 the car park. At this time people cross on their way to work, mostly young people. Within half an hour about 100 had gone through. They usually arrive in large groups. Stand opposite the locked gate that leads to the terminal , and wait for it to open. If God forbid they went inside in a company of more than five, one would immediately hear the loud speaker call : "Five at a time, go back". A few go through swiftly. In the shed there is a well-maintained praying area. Upon our arrival two people had just finished praying and walked to the terminal.


lavatories, as before, are filthy and lack paper. The floor is covered with water and mud.

Passage inside the terminal is quick and from a distance we observe no delays.


07:05  Tura-Shaked checkpoint  

 Passage begins late at the terminal. Inspection is slow. People continuously complain of the late opening hour, after 07:00.

One couple complain that their 10-year-old son was not allowed to cross with them and had to return home. In the recent passage permits, the remark regarding children accompanying their parents has been omitted. One person told us about an acquaintance of his, who had worked in Israel with a permit for an employer. For a limited time he was asked to work for another employer, where he fell  and was injured in several parts of his body. The temporary employer (who is not listed on the permit) refused to take part in the medical expenses and the injured worker is barred from placing filing a complaint or demand some sort of compensation. At Kav La'Oved they cannot assist or demand compensation on his behalf without turning him in as an illegal. At this time this injured worker cannot work and, as put by his friend, is eating his heart out"….


The garbage overflows. Food leftovers are on the ground and the wind causes plastic bags to fly around in the air.


07:40   East Bart  

We came across a destroyed house. It turns out that its owner asked but did not get a building permit from the civil  administration (this is while East Barta'a is part of the Palestinian authority). When it was discovered that he had built without the permit, people from the civil management arrived and tore it down.