Nazlat Eisa, Gate 101, Rihan

Nazlat Eisa, Gate 101, Tuscany road of the Middle East, Rihan, Monday, December 6, 2004, PMObservers: Mara B-D., Shula B. (reporting)13:00 15:00West Nazlat-Eisa, - The wall has divided this village into two (a year ago). Houses were destroyed on both sides of the wall for the sake of "sterility." The remainder of those left on the western side of the wall, live under the same restrictions as those living in the seam line area, i.e. they are banned from going into western Baka, which is adjacent to them. There is no sign of a border between this tiny village and the town of Baka, but there is no need to worry: "THEY know."The ruins of houses destroyed by the IDF in honor of the wall are in place. Residents of the village have not yet asked for compensation for the destruction of their homes because "They are scared that the army might destroy what is left."Gate 101 - This is an opening in the wall that separates East and West Baka (and Nazlat, which is in the middle). It is manned 24 hours a day. Through this opening Palestinians with the proper permits can pass. Israeli settlers can go in freely and so can people like us. "If you'll say that you live in Mevo Dotan [a settlement], you'll go through", says a soldier, explaining the policy of the checkpoint. No, he is not aware that the houses across the way are the remains of Nazlat and that the piles of ruins are what is left of the homes of its residents. "Ah, that is why they search through the rubble," he says, Now he understands. "I thought they were simply looking for wood for their stoves".He did hear of MachsomWatch. He once entered our website and saw a photo of a Palestinian 'Shaheed'. We rushed to correct him -- that must have been the false website, but he didn't seem to be interested in that.Tuscany road of the Middle East - We reached Rihan today through the road used by the locals, the one connecting Um-Kuttuf and Barta'a. This is an enchanting road, winding through olive groves and green meadows (covered by Colchicum), with a breathtaking view that all of us are crazy about. This road runs alongside and under the apartheid, megalomaniac, huge paved road bypassing Barta'a.Rihan -The checkpoint is quite desolate. The soldiers have almost nothing to do. The traffic of both of vehicles and pedestrians is most sparse. This is not due to the inefficiency of the CP, but rather because the people of the West Bank are not allowed into the enclave (a laundered word for the seam line area). Residents of the enclave are not allowed to move about freely without the proper papers, and not all of them have passage permits.Today nothing is allowed through. Yesterday it was permitted to bring in olive jars for "personal use", but today, even that is banned. Absolutely no commercial material of any sort, to the many stores of Barta'a. That is the direct order of the DCO. Even the soldiers think that it is "really exaggerated".