Rihan

Rihan, Sunday, January 2, 2005, AMObservers: Ana N., Netta G. (reporting)08:05 - 10:15As soon as we arrived at the checkpoint, we were approached by Staff Sergeant G., the CP commander. After greeting us, he instructed us not to speak with the soldiers but rather to himself only. He added that even he would not be able to answer questions regarding the checkpoint. We can stand there and observe and write whatever we want to, he said.Traffic of both pedestrians and vehicles is very sparse. Two pickup trucks loaded with vegetables were allowed to go to Barta'a. Arab Israelis crossed to the Palestinian side after they were asked to give their destination.A Palestinian who holds a commercial permit, which allows him to enter Israel for the purpose of doing business, asked to visit his mother in east Barta'a. He was directed to the Jalama checkpoint, because his permit does allow passage in Rihan. We tried calling Major B. at the District Coordination Office, but to no avail. We were told that the Palestinian needs to turn to the DCO in person to obtain the proper permit.A number of Israeli-Arab women, from Baka al-Garbiyeh (Israel), who had returned from a visit to Baka al-Sharkiyeh (West Bank), complained that they were forced to make a big detour in order to return home through Rihan, instead of going through the gate separating the two Bakas.A driver from east Barta'a who was waiting for passengers said there are so few passengers because people can not afford the fare.In the parking lot on the Palestinian side, there was an incident between a driver who backed out carelessly, according to the checkpoint commander, who made a remark regarding that, and was answered in a humorous way. The CP commander and the representative of the DCO on site, took the driver's ID card and called the police. The police came and left. After half an hour the papers were returned to the driver and he drove off. We tried asking Staff Sergeant G. what happened, but he wouldn't answer us.We didn't go to the Shaked gate due to the heavy fog on the road.