Rihan, Tuesday, March 8, 2005, AMObservers: Ricki, Joy H., Miriam L., Tammi S. (reporting)10:00 – 12:30Unfamiliar soldiers on site. Has the unit changed? The atmosphere is serious, regulations are kept strictly, and there is no chance for anyone to go through without a permit. Inspection of belongings is done on the ground and people are treated with calls of ‘Ta’al” (come!) instead of “Tfadal” (please).We witnessed two problems:1). A man who is employed with the courthouse in Jenin came to the checkpoint with a summons to court for an accused from Barta’a. He was denied entrance for lack of a passage permit. The soldier on duty had complained that once he did “a favor,” allowing the man in, and it turned out not to be worthwhile, because although the man knew that the soldiers cannot allow him in without a permit, he keeps coming, trying his luck. This time he was willing to leave his identification papers with the soldiers and go in “for 10 minutes only,” but the CP commander insisted on not letting him in. And so, after waiting there for several hours, the man from the court had to return to Jenin.2). The case of a man who moved from Ya’abed to Barta’a six years ago: His daughters were born in Barta’a and he owns a store in Barta’a. He received a commercial entrance permit to Israel, through Jalama, which means he can go to Israel through Jalama only, and without his vehicle. Up until 3 days ago, the soldiers would have let him go home from Rihan, after completing his commercial purchasing for his store. Today he is not allowed to do so.His car is parked in the lower parking lot. He himself can cross from Jalama, but his car can not return, neither from Jalama nor from Rihan. Captain P., the representative of the District Coordination Office (DCO) suggests he should go to the DCO with his papers stating that he indeed lives in Barta’a. A friend drove to his house to bring his daughters’ birth certificates, and then they continued to Salem.As of now, I have been unable to reach him by phone to learn what happened to him. I’ll try tomorrow.