Jalama and Rihan Tuesday morning, October 26, 2004 Observers: Shifra G., Chasida S. (reporting) 07:00 – 9:30 – Jalama The Jalama checkpoint is built up and neatly paved. Military police soldiers are nice and cooperative – but the place is empty! Two Israeli trucks passed through on their way to work in Kadeem/Ganeem. On the other side also, the closure is not absolute, but still, we haven’t seen a single person. The shed is vacant. The inspection “sleeve” is empty as well. No vehicles were seen at the back-to-back area [for offloading and reloading merchandise being transported across the CP without the vehicles crossing it]. We were not allowed to cross over toward the direction of the shed and of course, they didn’t let us drive to Checkpoint 250. There was no point in asking if the reason for the ban is a “high-level security alert” – we can cite that chapter and verse by heart.We drove to Rihan. At Rihan we observed what the soldiers call a “breathing closure.” There is more traffic here; Palestinian vehicles drive in both directions. From north to south, there is inspection of documents. Going from south to north (Israel), cars are also being inspected. There are hardly any pedestrians. The few who go through are usually residents of East Barta’a and farmers en route to work in the “seam line” area [between the Green Line and the “Separation Fence”]. All this was told to us by a resident of Barta’a who waited for his relatives on the northern side. Work at the permanent inspection posts is nearing completion.