Rihan

Rihan, Thursday, January 20, 2005, PMObserving and reporting: Mara and Shula.14:00 - 15:15Heavy traffic on both sides on account of the holiday. Entire families all dressed up for the celebrations. Those going into the West Bank do not encounter any problems. Those coming out of the West Bank, wishing to go to the seam line zone, who are without a valid permit for the Rihan checkpoint only, have no chance of crossing.Since only those with the proper papers bother to come to the checkpoint, all appears wonderful -- no obstacles. The rain has stopped. The air is so clean and pure that at times it is difficult to breathe.The "thermos children" Walid and Saeed, spot us from a distance and come running to us with the coffee thermos.All of sudden, the CP closes to traffic. Five absurd moments. The soldiers apologize to the drivers and pedestrians: "It will take only five minutes." There is a drill of terrorist penetration of the site (code-named "Rooster"). Fire-Fire-Fire, running over here, Fire-Fire-Fire, running over there, the soldiers aim rifles, getting excited.