Jalama, RihanSunday morning, 17 October 2004 Observers: Chasida S. , Sarit R”P. , Ana N”S. (reporting) 07:00 – Jalama We are in an absolute closure. Even birds do not fly in. There are a few lucky guys…. they are the “seam line” construction workers [allowed to cross so they can continue their approved work]. A closure means a siege on the entire civilian population. and in an ‘unlaundered’ Hebrew: No one goes in or gets out for more than a month now. “Why”? we ask, :”There is a high level of alert for a terrorist activity!” so we are told. :”So what?, Again a collective punishment? Because of one rotten apple… etc.?”. “There is nothing we can do, and also – there is the fast of Ramadan”.Aha, now we get it. It is all so clear!! There has to be a balance! First there was a closure due to our holidays; now it’s their holiday which causes the closure!We want to tour the premises, as far as the gas station. A week ago we spoke with a number of desperate Palestinians. Today we saw them from a distance. D. the commander said: “Not today!” We didn’t want to argue , so we gave up.The soldiers’ lodgings are perfectly sweet in pink and purple. Pretty soon they might install window boxes with blooming violets, a rooster weather vane with a chimney on the roof, almost like in a tranquil valley in Switzerland. But alas – we are surrounded by wired fences, concrete and ample asphalt and iron, iron, and more iron.We left for Rihan. On the way, in the fields, we noticed figures bending over green crops. This pastoral picture is interrupted by a blinking Military Police vehicle and soldiers doing a papers inspection among the field laborers. 09:15 – Rihan The weather forecast had promised a heat wave, and hot it is; The strong morning sun hits hard on us as well as on others. Everything sweats and everyone is tired.On the way we came across an army base. We ask for directions. The soldiers glance at our MachsomWatch tags and reply jokingly, pointing to the hills (which is obviously the wrong direction.)We get to Rihan. The representative from the DCO [IDF Civil Administration, that issues passage permits] was there and we asked him: ” What’s going on today?” his answer is:”Exactly what was written in yesterday’s report – Haven’t you read it?” he scolds me. Surprise, he read the MachsomWatch shift reports before we do!!!About 15 pedestrians and a similar number of vehicles on both sides of the checkpoint. There is a strict examining of gift boxes of those coming out of the West Bank for the holiday. Vehicles are inspected efficiently.Residents of the “seam line” [border area where Israel and the Territories are adjacent] cross to their olive trees for picking. Farmers are allowed in with a vehicle or riding donkeys, provided the vehicle is registered in their names and it is stated as such in the permit. Others, who are not allowed in despite the required permits, wait for a special permit from the DCO. Israeli Arabs are banned from going to the Territories, From the opposite direction people cross over to Israel although it is doubtful whether they’d be allowed back. In a short period of time the checkpoint has emptied.Y., the CP. Commander, makes himself available to us and willingly answers some of our questions. From time to time a female soldier comes over to clarify an item in some ID papers and he uses common sense to ease the process. He says that there is no extra burden on the CP today, in comparison with other days.As opposed to the polite behavior of the commander noted above, when we turn to another soldier at the site, with a question, he reads the MachsomWatch tag that we wear and exclaims: “Aha! you’re a collaborator!” and spits to the side. We report it to his superior at the CP, stressing that if we are subjected to such behavior, how does he react to the Palestinians? The response we get: a shrug of shoulders.10:00 – We leave.