Rihan, Barta’a, Shaked, Thursday September 8, 2005, AMObservers: Revital S. , Chedva H., Ana N-S (reporting)On our way to the checkpoint, we see the ruins of what used to be houses of settlers at Homesh and Sa-Nur.Rihan, 10:15The vehicle barrier is open to military vehicles for settlers from Hermesh and Mevo Dotan.Barta’a, 10:30Closure is still in effect. Those passing through are residents from the seam line zone who hold the proper permits.A group of women with Israeli ID cards want to go into the West Bank. One of them begs the soldiers, but the answer is: “As you know there is a closure.” They leave the site sadly.Three youngsters are detained; we bring them drinking water from the military tanker. In a short while they are joined by 10 others and within one hour they are released.At the entrance to the seam line area there is a long line of vehicles awaiting inspection. The inspection procedure is: People get of the car, unload, lift, untie, put down, gather, reload, slam the door, drive away. There is no exchange of words and the silence is tense.Very few pedestrians at the gate. On the opposite side, very few people and/or vehicles going into the West Bank. The soldiers work quietly and answer questions politely.Passage of goods – As usual, there is a limit of 5 boxes – food for household consumption that does not include meat, dairy products and eggs. Any other quantity would be considered commercial and would require a special permit.A pickup truck with aluminum rails is not allowed through: the aluminum is not specified in the permit. The driver complains to us that obtaining a permit at the District Coordination Office (DCO) would cost him a day’s work, and even than he is not sure he would be granted such permit.A man with a passage permit tries to transfer 13 boxes into Barta’a. The soldiers tell him, in a polite manner, that his permit is past due and that he needs to go to the DCO to update it. He turns around and murmurs “Do you have any idea how does it feel to be told time and again to go back and forth?” He drives off.Another person with a passage permit, whose car is not registered in the permit but whose driver’s license indicates that he is the sole owner of the car, is not allowed through, We call the DCO on his behalf; they agree on the absurdity of the situation but offer a solution which is unacceptable to the driver. A Red Cross pickup truck from Jenin is on its way to Barta’a. The passengers present papers which the soldiers find insufficient, and they can’t proceed. Shaked, 12:30 Soldiers open the gate, but won’t allow anyone through until reinforcements arrive. At 12:45, on our way home, we see a military Hummer on his way to help the soldiers at the gate.