Rihan

Rihan, Thursday, December 9, 2004, AMObservers: Leah R., Chedva H. (reporting)10:35 - 12:30We were greeted by unexpected quiet at the site. Very few soldiers and even fewer Palestinians. The closure that prevents Arab Israelis from going into the West Bank is still in effect. Merchandise going out of the West Bank into Israel is allowed only in humanitarian cases. According to T., the commander of the inspection post for pedestrians, the Military Police decides on the above.A Palestinian arrives at the checkpoint carrying aluminum plates, apparently for sale in Barta'a. He is not allowed in and goes back home with his merchandise. A man and a woman with a child and a baby arrive at the gate attempting to go from south (the territories) to north (Israel, maybe Barta'a). The soldiers let the woman and the children in, while the man is banned from crossing for lack of a passage permit. For a few minutes the man tried convincing the soldier to let him through, but to no avail, and they all went back to where they came from. A soldier appeared and introduced himself as the checkpoint commander, a stern staff sergeant. He angrily refused to answer any of our questions, insisting that even the other CP commander had no right to speak with us. According to him, we should turn to the battalion commander on every issue. We should emphasize that the first soldier who introduced himself as the CP commander, upon our arrival, said to us that he was the address for any questions and clarifications. He asked us to stand at a distance from the soldiers and avoid talking to them. We were also instructed not to cross the CP southward and not to go down to the parking lot where the cabs await passengers. The logic behind all that is our own safety, should too many Palestinian gather there. It was unclear as to what "gathering" he was referring to.A bus arrived from Jeni. The passengers, apparently residents of Barta'a, were returning to their village from the territories. Among the passengers who got off for inspection was an elderly woman. She pointed at her teeth, signing to the female soldier at the inspection post that she had came for dental treatment in Barta'a. A quick check revealed that she had no permit and she was told to return home. The Palestinian woman didn't understand the soldier and tried to proceed. To our astonishment, the female soldier barked at her: "Go away from here, you have nothing to look for here." It was most embarrassing.Out of the blue, a Jeep arrived, parking right next to us. The gentleman who got out of it was middle-aged, dressed in civilian clothes, a pistol sticking out of his belt in a most demonstrative fashion.