Rihan
Rihan, Saturday, January 29, 2005, AMObservers: Dania C., Yonat Y., Noa L. (reporting)08:30 - 11:00Summary: Heavy traffic. Strict inspection. Attitude efficient and courteous.There are no special restrictions. The checkpoint is commanded by Second Lieutenant A. He and his soldiers, especially one soldier of the military police, demonstrate efficiency and are courteous. Up to three vehicles are inspected simultaneously; varied merchandise goes through following a strict inspection. Parcels are opened, boxes are unloaded.Despite the relatively heavy traffic for this CP, passage is swift.There are fewer pedestrians, and they too are inspected and go through without delays. There are no detainees
.Two men were denied passage; they didn't have passage permits.A man, born in Jenin and now a resident of the U.S., holding a "Green Card" had arrived from Jordan and wished to go to Barta'a, but had no "Tasreech" -- a passage permit. Communication with him was difficult, since he spoke very little Hebrew or English. Apparently he had some problems at the District Coordination Office (DCO). Because he had a Green Card, we called the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and they directed us to the American consulate. He wasn't allowed through today.Two farmers from the village of Kapeen who wanted to go to their olive orchards near Barta'a came to the gate. Their passage permits, issued in Tul Karem, were valid for gate No. 12. Gate 12 was closed today and yesterday too, when they crossed though Rihan. We called the Tul Karem DCO representative, who permitted their entrance through Rihan. He passed on that instruction to the soldier at the checkpoint, but the commander on site didn't allow their passage because they appeared suspicious to him.We talked to the cab drivers outside the Palestinian side of the CP: "All is as usual, there are still no changes at the CPs. Abu Mazen has just started and he needs to be given time to take action," they said. On the Israeli side of the CP, a man told us that today, some of the children were back at school. We went to the Shaked gate, although the timing wasn't right for either the beginning or the end of the school day. There were two women and some children who were waiting for the gate to open at 1 PM and they didn't need any help from us.