Rihan

Rihan, Saturday, February 5, 2005, AMObservers: Dvora M., Rachel H., Irit R. (reporting)08:30 - 10:30Pouring rain, fierce cold, strong wind.... The sparse traffic streams along.Anyone who doesn't have the proper permit is not allowed through.We met an elderly man trying to visit his daughter who lives in Um al-Rihan. He lives in Ya'abed and his passage permit is valid for Jalama only. Ashamed and humiliated, he returns home, and once again we have to watch this human humiliation.One of the soldiers approaches us; he fails to understand what three old ladies are doing at the checkpoint in this cold, rainy weather. He invited us to join them, with the military vest and the rifle...We left the vacant checkpoint with only a handful of soldiers who are trying to hide from the rain.