Shaked, Rihan

Shaked, Rihan, Sunday, January 16, 2005, PM>Observers: Chani R., Limor B., Carmel B. (reporting)13:15 - 15:5013:15 - Shaked checkpoint is empty of soldiers as well as of civilians.13:25 - Rihan - The checkpoint commander, Staff Sergeant G., asks us amiably to turn to him only on any issue, and to avoid speaking with the soldiers.There is a free passage for Arab Israelis into the occupied territories. G. cannot talk to us about regulations regarding passage of merchandise.The vehicle post is quite empty. At times there is a line of about 15 cars awaiting inspection, but the checking is done efficiently and courteously. Waiting time is about 10 minutes.At the pedestrian post stands a soldier, the "educator." When someone wishes to transfer a bag with socks, he is denied passage ("Only your own socks can go through.") The bags,of course, go through, inside the car. A van loaded with about 15 sealed bags (flour? cement?) comes along and the driver wants to go through. Since the content of the bags can not be inspected, he is sent to the Magnumeter. A welcome, surprising change: In the past, such a van would be sent to Jalama checkpoint,a dead-end solution.We talk with people crossing the checkpoint. It turns out that the fare for a ride of 32 kilometers from the checkpoint to Jenin will cost a single person in a cab full of passengers between NIS 10 and 20.15:45 - The checkpoint gate is closed for five minutes to allow the soldiers to put on the proper clothes for the rain, which started pouring down. Five minutes later, the gate reopens.We encounter another case of a resident of the West Bank with family in Barta'a, whose permit expired a year ago. Ever since, he has not been able to visit them.