Rihan

Rihan, Sunday, January 9, 2005, AMObservers: Carmel B., Tammi S., Netta G. (reporting)10:50 - 14:15Election day. On our way to the checkpoint, we stopped by the school in Um al-Rihan, where the ballot box was located. We asked those leaving, and they said that the elections were proceeding nicely.At the Rihan checkpoint, there was sparse movement of pedestrians as well as vehicles. Passage was regular. We were told that there is no passage for agriculture workers, because election day is like the Sabbath.There is a reinforced presence of military personnel and Israeli police. At times there were more people in uniform than Palestinians. Agricultural merchandise went through after inspection.Soldiers do not allow passage of heavy bags of clothes that appears to be "commercial quantities." The owners of the bags claim that these are clothes bought for family members for the upcoming holiday, Id al-Adha.Another problem that arose had to do with large-quantity egg crates.Lieutenant Colonel Fuad, the head of the District Coordination Office (DCO), who happened to be on site at the time, allows such crates to be brought into the "seam line" zone. In his opinion, the agriculture control unit should be involved in such matters, otherwise infected eggs might be distributed in Israeli markets.Between the hours of 13:00-14:00 the numbers of people who were on their way to vote in Barta'a increased. All held the necessary permits. In the meantime, the blue (civilian) police detained 5 "shabaheem" (Palestinians who have stayed in Israel without a permit) who wanted to return home to the West Bank. After clarifications, they were allowed to go on their way. We were told that onet of the reasons for the presence of the blue police is localization of stolen vehicles.Two delegations of foreign observers came from the West Bank. One from the European Union went through the checkpoint immediately; the second, representing an organization from Catalonia, Spain, had to wait for clarification prior to their passage.Two Palestinian police officers brought, in their car, a policeman who was supposed to guard the ballot box in Um al-Rihan. After clarification of his details, which took about half an hour, he was allowed in.We returned through Barta'a. A passerby told us that the elections were going smoothly and was proud to report that his own father was an observer at the polling station.